Resigned Miss USA, Miss Teen USA 2023 were ‘mistreated,’ their mothers claim

Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava | Images: Instagram/@noeliavoigt, @umasofias

The mothers of Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava alleged that their daughters were “mistreated” by the pageant organization, causing their resignation from their respective titles. 

In a recent interview with Good Morning America (GMA), the mothers, Barbara Srivastava and Jackeline Voigt claimed that their daughters cannot speak about the “abuse” given the confidentiality clauses in their contracts. 

“The job of their dreams turned out to be a nightmare,” said Barbara. “They were ill-treated, abused, bullied, and cornered.”

Barbara also claimed that her daughter, UmaSofia’s personal social media was also “surveyed and controlled.”

READ: Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt resigns, urges fans to prioritize mental health

Meanwhile, Voigt cited a circumstance where her daughter, Noelia, was asked by an old man at a Christmas parade if she was “into old men with money, which made her very scared and uncomfortable.”

“She was so upset. This was not what she worked so hard for,” she said. 

Noelia penned a letter to the Miss USA Organization, released by GMA, speaking out about the “toxic work environment” as well as alluding to “being sexually harassed.”

“There is a toxic work environment within the Miss USA organization that at best, is poor management, and at worst, is bullying and harassment,” she wrote. 

“I was made to feel unsafe at events without an effective handler, and this culminated in being sexually harassed,” read the statement.

On May 6, Noelia took to Instagram to announce that she had stepped down as Miss USA 2023, saying one should “never compromise [physical] and mental well-being.”

“My hope is that I continue to inspire others to remain steadfast, prioritize your mental health, advocate for yourself and others by using your voice, and never be afraid of what the future holds, even if it feels uncertain,” she wrote in part of her statement.

After her resignation, UmaSofia followed suit, resigning from her post as Miss Teen USA 2023. 

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