In a surprising turn of events, the winners of the 2023 Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants have announced their resignations, shedding light on important conversations surrounding mental health and the treatment of pageant participants. UmaSofia Srivastava, Miss Teen USA, cited differing personal values with the organization, while Noelia Voigt, Miss USA, mentioned mental health and a "toxic" work environment as reasons for stepping down.

Srivastava shared on social media that resigning was not her preferred choice, but her values no longer aligned completely with the direction of the Miss USA Organization. On the other hand, Voigt's resignation letter alleged a "toxic" working environment and claimed that an incident involving sexual harassment was dismissed by the organization's leadership.

Voigt's letter revealed that the toxic work environment began shortly after winning the Miss USA 2023 title. The abrupt resignations of both Voigt and Srivastava have shocked the pageant community, still recovering from the tragedy of Cheslie Kryst's suicide in 2022, who had also struggled with mental health issues.

According to Voigt, the Miss USA Organization CEO, Laylah Rose, displayed cold and aggressive behavior, even when Voigt sought support. Voigt recounted an incident at a Christmas event in Florida where she was left alone in a car with a man who made inappropriate statements. Despite Voigt's concerns, Rose allegedly dismissed them, stating that such occurrences were a part of being a public figure. Voigt further revealed that Rose threatened to withhold her salary as a disciplinary measure.

Voigt's distressing interactions with Rose and the organization caused anxiety and physical symptoms, including heart palpitations, shakes, loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, loss of sleep, and hair loss. Voigt's experiences prompted other individuals within the Miss USA Organization to come forward, including Claudia Michelle, the organization's social media director, who also resigned.

State titleholders who participated in Miss USA 2023 expressed support for Voigt and called for the release of a nondisclosure agreement, allowing Voigt to speak about her experiences openly. Unfortunately, the Miss USA Organization did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comments.

This is not the first time the Miss USA Organization has faced mental health crises. Following Kryst's suicide, her mother, April Simpkins, revealed that Kryst struggled with high-functioning depression. Simpkins has now published Kryst's writings in a book titled "By the Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie's Smile and Mental Illness-Her Story in Her Own Words."

Simpkins expressed pride in Voigt's decision to prioritize her mental health, emphasizing the importance of valuing one's well-being. Simpkins acknowledged that Voigt likely faced stressors that Kryst did not, and mentioned that Kryst had support as she lived with the Miss Universe titleholder during her tenure.

Nia Sanchez, Miss USA 2014, also disclosed experiencing depression during her time as Miss USA. She praised the organization for providing her with immediate psychiatric assistance and leaned on her faith to cope with the demands of the role.

The resignations of Voigt and Srivastava mark the first instances in Miss USA's 72-year history. The Miss Universe Organization, which oversees Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, has undergone changes in ownership and leadership, with Donald Trump selling the organization in 2015. In 2020, Crystle Stewart became the national director, but she was suspended in 2022 following allegations of favoritism. Since August, Laylah Rose has assumed the role of president and CEO of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.

Former Miss USA, Nia Sanchez, expressed shock at the resignations and hopes that they will serve as a catalyst for positive change within the organization, ensuring better support for titleholders who dedicate themselves to these roles.

The recent developments in the Miss USA Organization highlight the urgent need for discussions about mental health and the well-being of pageant participants. It is crucial to foster a supportive environment that prioritizes the mental health of those who hold these prestigious titles.