Miss Teen USA, UmaSofia Srivastava, stepped down from her position on Wednesday, shortly after Miss USA did the same.
Srivastava shared on Instagram that she had been thinking about this choice for some time, and finally chose to step down because her own beliefs no longer completely match those of the organization.
She mentioned in the caption of her post that although this wasn't how she expected her reign to end, she is looking forward to continuing her support for education and acceptance, applying to colleges, and working on new projects.
She also expressed gratitude for her experience and her optimism for the future, seeing her resignation as just a new chapter in her life.
In her post, Srivastava identified herself as a first-generation Mexican-Indian American and expressed excitement about completing 11th grade and starting the college application process, emphasizing that her academic success is due solely to her hard work.
The announcement comes just two days after Noelia Voigt, the woman who holds the title of Miss USA, announced she’s giving up her crown. She cited her “physical and mental well-being” in an announcement about her resignation.
Miss Teen USA responded to Srivastava’s news in a post on Instagram, wishing her the best and saying they would crown a new Miss Teen USA at some unspecified point.
“We respect and support UmaSofia’s decision to step down from her duties. The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority. We are currently reviewing plans for the transition of responsibilities to a successor, and we will soon announce the crowning of the new Miss Teen USA,” the post read.
