Photo: Getty Images
Miss USA Noelia Voigt announced her resignation this week, citing mental health for her decision, in a statement shared on her Instagram account that many have pointed out includes a hidden message.
Several users acknowledged that the first letter in the first 10 of 11 sentences of the statement shared by Voigt, 24, who represented Utah while winning the Miss USA 2023 crown at the pageant held in September and placed in the top 20 in the Miss Universe 2023 pageant in November, spelled out the phrase "I AM SILENCED."
“My journey as Miss USA has been incredibly meaningful, representing Utah with pride, and later the USA at Miss Universe (held in November),” Voigt said in the statement. “Sadly, I have made the very tough decision to resign from the title of Miss USA 2023.” USA TODAY has reached out to the pageant for comment.
“Never could I have imagined the journey that my childhood dream would take me on,” Voigt, 24, 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.
“Eternal gratitude fills my heart when I think about the platform I was given to make a difference, the feeling of achieving a lifelong dream, and connecting with people all over the world, just as I said I would do on the Miss USA stage,” she added. “Deep down I know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me, and my hope is that I 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.”
Voigt's decision came days before Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, whom she specifically mentioned in her statement while expressing gratitude for support, also resigned from her title on Wednesday (May 8).
Miss Hawaii runner-up, Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii, was reportedly offered the title amid Voigt's resignation, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
Alexis Loomans of Wisconsin, Jasmine Daniels of Pennsylvania and Lluvia Alzate of Texas finished third, fourth and fifth in the competition respectively. Voigt was the first Venezuelan-American woman to win the Miss USA crown in the pageant's history, according to her statement.
A spokesperson for the Miss USA organization said “the well-being of our titleholders is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself at this time" in a statement to CNN following her resignation.