Noelia Voigt Has Resigned Six Months After Becoming Miss USA
"My hope is that I continue to inspire others to remain steadfast, prioritize your mental health," Noelia said in her resignation.
Published May 7 2024, 1:19 p.m. ET
After being crowned Miss USA in November 2023, Noelia Voigt has rescinded her crown and the title that comes with it. Representing the state of Utah, Noelia became the first Venezuelan-American woman to win the competition.
According to CNN, “As a contestant in November, Voigt spoke about the importance of her heritage during the final Q&A round when she was asked what she would contribute to the Miss Universe Organization and promised to connect with diverse communities across the United States.” She mentioned those communities in her resignation.
Noelia resigned from Miss USA to focus on her mental health.
In an extremely long Instagram message, Noelia explained her decision. While the text may be a bit difficult to read on a phone, her caption does a good job summarizing the decision. It reads, “I realize this may come as a large shock to many. Never compromise your physical and mental well-being. Our health is our wealth. A million thank yous to all of you for your constant and unwavering support. Time to write the next chapter. I hope you’ll stick around to see what’s next 🤍."
Some of the text in her resignation reads, "Deep down I know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me, and 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."
Is there more to Noelia’s resignation than mental health?
The Washington Post points out that some folks believe there’s more to this resignation than just mental health. “Several amateur sleuths pointed out that the first letters of her post’s first 11 sentences spelled: 'I AM SILENCED,' though it’s unclear what that means, or if it’s a strange coincidence (the first letters of every sentence spelled out: 'I AM SILENCED HIP'). Voigt did not respond to questions from The Washington Post about this speculation.”
The Miss USA Instagram account wished Noelia the best. “Thank you, Noelia, for your service as Miss USA. 👑❤️ We wish you the best in this next chapter. We respect and support Noelia’s decision to step down from her duties. The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself at this time. We are currently reviewing plans for the transition of responsibilities to a successor, and we will soon announce the crowning of the new Miss USA.”
Most every comment in the Miss USA Instagram post is untrustworthy of the organization, siding with Noelia and questioning why she would have resigned if something wasn’t amiss. One of the most liked comments come from fellow pageant contestant Whitney Sharpe, a former Miss MA USA, “We wouldn’t be here in the first place if the well being of your titleholders was actually a priority.”
The 73rd Miss USA Pageant is scheduled to air live on The CW on Aug. 4, 2024.
