Ex Miss USA and Miss Teen USA speak out

Voigt and Srivastava discuss their resignations and their plan to shape the future of pageants in their first joint interview.

Ex Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Give First Joint Interview Since Resigning

Noelia Voigt and UmaSofia Srivastava sat down with Business Insider for their first interview together since resigning as Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. They discussed eight months into their reigns and the decision to help launch the Miss All-American pageant as a way to keep a tradition they still believe in. Their mothers spoke on their behalf, describing a period of pressure and alleged mistreatment by Miss USA CEO Laylah Rose, who denies the claims. The women were under nondisclosure agreements, which limited what they could publicly say.

At the inaugural Miss All-American event in Charleston, Voigt and Srivastava described a healthier environment and the chance to heal. They said their role as national ambassadors was a natural fit after stepping away from the old structure. The new pageant aims to preserve community and opportunity while giving contestants more support. The Miss Universe Organization responded to requests for comment with a general statement about empowerment and integrity, and Rose defended the leadership in its own statement. The interview also touched on personal plans: Voigt aims to study nursing, while Srivastava will study marketing and music business at NYU next spring.

Leadership in pageants is under intense scrutiny as former winners use their platform to push for change. The interview highlights a pattern of restricted appearances and alleged harassment in the old regime, even as the organization denies wrongdoing. The new Miss All-American pageant presents itself as a reform space, but it also raises questions about how much real reform is possible within an established system.

For audiences, the episode invites reflection on accountability, funding, and the health of contestants who chase visibility and tradition. If more groups adopt open dialogue and mental health initiatives, pageants could evolve beyond glossy rituals into platforms that empower young women through honesty and support. The story suggests progress is possible when voices are enabled to speak up and steer the culture toward care.

Highlights

Change in pageantry comes not from dethroning a crown but from reclaiming a voice.