Miss USA gives back her crowns to maintain her mental health – Libération

Two Misses resigned. The 2023 Miss USA and Miss Teen 2023 winners resigned this week for reasons related to… “Mental health”This follows the resignation of the director of the American Miss Beauty Pageant, who denounced the work environment “poisonous”. This controversy about the possible psychological abuse and pressures on these young women, accompanied by rumors of silence around this competition created in 1952 – in the hands of Donald Trump until 2015 – began secretly a week ago on social networks. It gained momentum Thursday in the American and international press, leaving doubts swirling: behind the spark of the crown, the stain of an unhealthy system?

It all started on May 3, when the head of social networks for the Miss USA organization, Claudia Michele, announced her departure in a long message on Instagram. She cites the name of the American of Venezuelan origin, Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA 2023 at the age of 24, and her compatriot of Indian and Mexican origin, Uma Sofia Srivastava, who was elected Miss Teen USA 2023 at the age of seventeen. “I have had the privilege of working closely with Noelia, and unfortunately I have noticed an attack on her mental health since our first meeting.”Claudia Michele denounces. “I was also at the forefront of witnessing the disrespect towards Uma and her family.”And she continues to warn about this “Noelia and Uma’s mental health and happiness have been affected.” He refuses that “Keep quiet”.

Claudia Michele also says “Disavowing toxicity and bullying in all its forms in the workplace.” And he makes fun of the road “Unprofessional and inadequate” Of which “The current administration talks about winners.”. The resigned director recalls this “without [ces jeunes femmes] There is neither Miss USA nor Miss Teen USA. And “Their voices and stories must be heard and not silenced.”.

“I am silent”

Noelia Voigt, in turn, announced on Monday, via Instagram, that she was relinquishing the title of Miss USA 2023, citing her statements. “Mental health”. “I realize how traumatic this may be for many. Never put your physical and mental health at risk. Our health is our wealth.” […]. Prioritize your mental health, advocate for yourself and others by speaking up and never fear what the future holds.the young woman pleads forcefully.

On Wednesday, Noelia Voigt follows up with her youngest daughter, Uma Sofia Srivastava, who also announced on Instagram that she “I decided to resign because [ses] Personal values ​​no longer fully align with the values ​​of the organization’s leadership.” Miss USA. The last response “Respect and support Noelia’s decision to leave his position [car] Welfare [ses] Winners have always been a priority. Both candidates remain in office, with elections for the 2024 World Cup winners not being held until August.

The American magazine reported on Thursday that the Miss USA contest has been witnessing controversy for about ten years ForbesBut it is the first time in seven decades that a winner has resigned for a reason other than being crowned in the Miss Universe competition. In recent days, many users of social networks, such as TikTok, believe that they have discovered an encrypted and hidden message in Noelia Voigt’s post.

In fact, by taking the first letter of the first 11 sentences of his letter, the sentence appears “I am silent” (“I am being silenced”), according to American NBC television, Thursday, the point And the HuffPost. They see it as an echo of the message of former Miss USA president, Claudia Michele, who wanted to break it “Silence” And the supposed silence around female beauty contests.