The Miss United States pageant named a new winner after the former titleholder quit over concerns about her “physical and mental well-being” amid bullying allegations.
Noelia Voigt, 24, announced her shocking resignation on Monday in an Instagram post that read: “In life, I highly value the importance of making decisions that are best for you and your mental health.”
On Thursday, the national pageant named the new 2023 winner as 28-year-old Savannah Ganziewicz, Miss Hawaii.
Miss USA announced that Ganziewicz would be crowned at a ceremony in her home state next week.
Following Voigt’s sudden resignation, the organization has come under scrutiny after the former winner cited mental health and well-being as her reasoning, which has fueled rumors of harassment in the pageant world.
Noelia Voigt, 24, became the first title holder in the 72-year history of Miss United States to relinquish her crown.
On Thursday, the national pageant named the new 2023 winner as Savannah Ganziewicz (pictured), 28, who is Miss Hawaii.
Miss USA announced that Ganziewicz (pictured) will be crowned at a ceremony in her home state next week.
Voigt was crowned last September after campaigning on messages of anti-bullying and immigration reform, but plans to step down to prioritize her “physical and mental well-being.”
“In life, I highly value the importance of making decisions that are best for you and your mental health,” Voigt wrote in Monday’s announcement.
Eagle-eyed fans spotted a cryptic code in Voigt’s resignation statement, with the first letter of each sentence reading: “I AM SILENT.”
Voigt’s fellow contestants have supported her decision to resign, calling on pageant bosses to release her from her confidentiality agreement to “give Noelia her voice back”.
The beauty queen’s resignation was quickly followed by Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, 17, who also resigned Wednesday, saying in her own statement that her values ”no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.”
A third woman, Miss USA’s social media manager, also sensationally quit her job in what is believed to have been a coordinated move with the champions, criticizing management and saying she rejects the “toxicity and harassment in the Workplace”.
Accusations of a “toxic” environment around the Miss USA Organization have been swirling as news of the trio’s sudden resignations emerged in recent days.
These allegedly include strict contracts that force contestants to smile at all times, as well as harassment and widespread mental health issues among pageant queens.
Eagle-eyed fans spotted an apparent hidden message in her resignation statement, with the first letter of each sentence reading: “I AM SILENT.”
President and CEO of the Miss USA and Teen USA organization, Laylah Rose (center) with the champions
Voigt’s resignation was quickly followed by Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava (pictured together), who said her values ”no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.”
Despite accusations of toxicity in the community, Gankiewicz expressed his support for the former winner in a statement as he accepted his new title.
‘Please know that my decision to accept the Miss USA crown was not made lightly. “I stand with Noelia and admire her strength to give up and prioritize her mental health,” she wrote.
Gankiewicz was congratulated by Laylah Rose, CEP and president of Miss USA. ‘We are proud to crown Savannah Miss USA 2023, a true representation of vision, intelligence and compassion. “Her dedication to empowering women through self-love and confidence is inspiring and we look forward to her impactful reign as Miss America.”
Amid the ongoing drama, a source said The New York Post that Voigt’s mental health declined dramatically while serving as Miss America, saying she suffered from “micromanagement up to the 10th grade and bullying.”
‘Noelia wakes up every day with tingling from harassing emails [from pageant organizers]: “Don’t do this”, “Don’t do that”, “Delete that post”, “Unlike that post”.
They added that she would be told to “remember her NDA” constantly, and that Miss USA Organization president Rose would allegedly post on social media under Voigt and Srivastava’s name on a whim.
The Miss USA Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by DailyMail.com.
In the days leading up to Voigt’s resignation, the organization’s social media manager, Claudia Michelle, also resigned, writing in her own statement that “being offered your dream job and seeing it was nothing was very discouraging.” .
“This is a women’s empowerment organization and my hope in making this statement is to restore some of the empowerment that these champions lost so profoundly in their year,” the former employee wrote.
Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt announced her resignation in an Instagram post, days after appearing at the Kentucky Derby
Voigt made her first red carpet appearance since news broke of her shocking resignation as Miss America on Thursday, for an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of People magazine at the New York City photography museum Fotografiska New York
She claimed she was left to run Voigt’s social media almost entirely alone, and during the time she worked with the 24-year-old, she “unfortunately (saw) a deterioration in his mental health.”
He added that Voigt’s “ability to share his story and his platform has been diminished,” and said he witnessed “disrespect” directed at Srivastava.
“I believe their voices and their stories should be heard and not silenced,” he wrote. “I repudiate toxicity in the workplace and harassment of any kind.”
On Thursday, Voigt made her first red carpet appearance since news of her shocking resignation as Miss United States spread.
The beauty queen was photographed at the Fotografiska New York photography museum in New York City for PEOPLE: Celebrating 50 Years, an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of People magazine.
Voigt donned an off-the-shoulder gray tulle midi dress while carrying a striped crystal clutch, with strappy silver heels. She She had her shiny brown locks parted to the side and was wearing large earrings.
Voigt thanked the publication for inviting her to the event in an Instagram post, calling it “an honor to celebrate” the magazine’s milestone alongside some incredibly iconic people.