The US beauty pageant industry, in a concise summation made last week, is “such a hot mess”. Two reigning beauty queens have stepped down in as many weeks, and there may be more turbulence to come to an area of showbusiness that promotes a sheen of perfection – at least among its contestants – but is increasingly seen as out of date with modern social mores. The drama started when 24-year-old Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt recently handed back her crown, citing her mental health in a cryptic Instagram post that also appeared to contain the hidden message “I am silenced.
” Voight later said that a driver who was taking her to a Christmas parade in Florida had made “inappropriate advances” towards her, and that she had received little or no support when she raised the matter with pageant president Laylah Rose, who allegedly told to her, “It is, unfortunately, part of the role you’re in as a public figure.” In a resignation letter, Voigt said Rose threatened to take away her salary for minor issues, and that Rose had said she hoped Voigt would be hit in the face by a baseball ball when she was booked to throw the opening pitch at a game. That was soon followed by the resignation of Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, who said said her “personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization”.
Srivastava, a 16-year-old high-schooler from New Jersey had won the title in September, had previously expressed pride at being the first Mexican-In.