UmaSofia Srivastava, the previous Miss Teen USA, revealed her resignation in an Instagram statement. This announcement comes shortly after Noellia Voigt, the former Miss USA, also relinquished her title.
In her statement, Srivastava shared, “Reflecting on my tenure as Miss NJ Teen USA brings me great joy. The opportunity to represent my state as a first-generation Mexican-Indian American on a national platform was truly rewarding. However, after thoughtful deliberation, I have chosen to resign as my personal beliefs no longer harmonize entirely with the organization’s trajectory.”
Many fans have expressed their support for Srivastava, with numerous encouraging messages pouring in, including a touching comment from former Miss USA Noelia Voigt, who said, “I think you’re amazing! I’m so proud of you, my dear.”
With only three months left in her reign before passing the crown to the next Miss Teen USA 2024, Srivastava acknowledged the overwhelming support by sharing Instagram stories from both former and current pageant participants who endorsed her choice. One story included a collage of Srivastava and Voigt, accompanied by the caption: “I will forever respect their courage. Two women who stand together and make the right choice. These two embody the true essence of pageantry.”
Miss Teen USA expressed their support for Srivastava’s decision to resign. Through Instagram, they shared a photo of Srivastava along with a message stating, “We honor and stand by UmaSofia’s decision to step down from her responsibilities.”
Responses to this announcement were largely negative, with comments ranging from “There’s clearly a major issue with your organization” to “this post epitomizes self-delusion.”
Just four days before the resignations, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA introduced Jordan Kimball as Co-Director and VP of social media relations. While there has been no official connection made between his hiring and the resignations, social media users have expressed skepticism about his qualifications, with one prominent comment stating, “Your decisions have tarnished Miss USA and Miss Teen USA in only 24 hours.”
Though her reign has come to an end, UmaSofia Srivastava has reiterated her dedication to promoting education and inclusivity, including the completion of her multilingual children’s book project, *The White Jaguar*.
