Noelia Voigt, the reigning Miss USA, announced she is relinquishing her crown.
The 24-year-old from Utah made the shocking announcement Monday morning via a lengthy post on Instagram.
“My journey as Miss USA has been incredibly meaningful, representing Utah with pride, and later the USA at Miss Universe (held in November),” Voigt wrote. “Sadly, I have made the very tough decision to resign from the title of Miss USA 2023.”
“Never could I have imagined the journey that my childhood dream would take me on,” she continued. “Constant and consistent hard work and dedication all lead me to where I am today, and I hope that the last seven years of competing in pageantry and sharing my journey with you all is something that inspires you to never give up on your dreams, whatever they may be.”
Voight began competing in pageants when she was just 16 years old.
In her statement, Voight commented on her work with Smile Train, a nonprofit that provides corrective surgery for children with cleft lips and palates. She also mentioned her advocacy for anti-bullying, dating violence prevention, and immigration rights.
The beauty queen previously spoke about her own experiences with bullying.
“I was so excited when I won that local pageant, and it was actually my ex-best friend who was the ringleader of it all,” she told Business Insider. “I was really hurt and confused as to why people I thought were my friends were making fun of me for doing something that I was really excited about and that I was doing good things with.”
“At first, it really did sting,” she said. “But it was clear to me that it was an attempt to steal the joy I had from this accomplishment.”
Voight, who cited her mental health as the reason for stepping down, hoped her actions would 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.”
The Miss USA organization shared a statement in support of Voight, writing “The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself at this time. The organization is currently reviewing plans for the transition of responsibilities to a successor and an announcement regarding the crowning of the new Miss USA will be coming soon.”
It’s extremely admirable that Noelia Voigt decided to step down from her role due to her mental health. We wish her nothing but the best.
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