UmaSofia Srivastava, the Miss Teen USA titleholder, relinquished her crown two days after Miss USA Noelia Voigt stepped down.
In a statement shared on social media, the 17-year-old pageant queen explained why she was giving up her title.
“After careful consideration, l’ve decided to resign as I find that my personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization,” Srivastava shared in a statement on Instagram. “However, I will continue my relentless advocacy for education and acceptance.”
Srivastava also shared she was “grateful for all the support from my family, my state directors, my sister queens, and the fans who have cheered me on since I won my state title. I will always look back on my time as Miss NJ Teen USA fondly, and the experience of representing my state as a first generation, Mexican-Indian American at the national level was fulfilling in itself.”
The pageant winner said she would focus on finishing her junior year in high school “as part of the National Honor Society and start the college application process, knowing that my academic career has been defined by my hard work, and my hard work alone.”
While Srivastava acknowledges that it was “not how I saw my reign coming to a close,” she was looking forward to start applying to colleges,” adding, “At the end of the day, I am so lucky to have had the privilege of this experience, but if this is just a chapter, I know that the story of my life will truly be incredible.”
Srivastava’s resignation comes days after the Miss USA titleholder did the same to focus on her mental health.
In a joint statement, organizers of the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants said, “We respect and support former Miss USA Noelia Voigt’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.”
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