Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA last September, said Monday she was stepping down from the position to prioritize her mental health.
Voigt, who represented Utah in the 2023 beauty pageant in Reno, Nevada, said in a statement on Instagram that resigning was a “difficult decision.”
“In life, I attach great importance to the importance of making decisions that are best for you and your mental health,” she said.
Voigt, who was born in Florida, said she was the first Venezuelan-American woman to win the Miss USA title, which began in 1952. As the winner, Voight went on to participate in the 2019 Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador. November. She placed in the top 20 and won the costume contest, where she wore a costume featuring miniature replicas of landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument and the White House.
Her sudden resignation raised questions among pageant fans, including those who noticed that the first letters of the first 11 sentences of Ms. Voight's statement were “I am silent.” (The first letter of the last three sentences is “hip”.)
Voigt and Miss USA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a statement posted on the Miss USA Instagram account, the organization said it respected and supported Voigt's decision to resign.
“The well-being of our titleholders is our top priority, and we understand her need to put herself first at this time,” the statement said of Ms. Voight. “We are currently reviewing plans to transition responsibilities to a successor and will soon announce the crowning of a new Miss USA.”
The first runner-up for Miss USA 2023 was Savannah Gankiewicz, Miss Hawaii USA. The other three runners-up were from Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Alexis Loomans, Miss Wisconsin, posted a photo taken with Voight on her Instagram Story and wrote, “Standing with you and for you.”
Voigt said in a statement that the best part of being Miss USA was working with Smile Train, a nonprofit organization that supports cleft palate patients, campaigning against bullying and supporting immigrant rights.
She wrote: “I know in my heart that this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me. And my hope is to continue to inspire others to remain unwavering, prioritize their mental health, and use their power to advocate for themselves and others. “Speak up and never be afraid, even if the future feels uncertain.”