Miss USA Noelia Voigt is Stepping Down After Just Seven Months on the Job

Miss USA Noelia Voigt has made the decision to step down after just over seven months into her reign. Voigt was crowned the 72nd annual Miss USA during the annual beauty pageant held in Reno, Nevada, on Sept. 23, 2023, making her the first Venezuelan-American woman to win the title.

In an Instagram post coinciding with the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month, the 24-year-old Florida native explained that she was resigning to prioritize her mental health.

"I realize this may come as a large shock to many," she captioned the statement. "Never compromise your physical and mental well-being. Our health is our wealth. A million thank you’s to all of you for your constant and unwavering support. Time to write the next chapter. I hope you’ll stick around to see what’s next."

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In the attached statement, Voigt seemingly gave additional context into her shocking decision.

"In life, I strongly value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health," she wrote. "As individuals, we grow through experiencing different things in life that lead us to learning more about ourselves."

She continued, noting that while her journey has been "incredible meaningful," she had made the tough decision to resign her title, noting that she was grateful for the love and support of fans, her family, friends, coaches, and so on.

“Every time someone asked me what my favorite part of being Miss USA was, I would always share with them how much I loved getting to work with Smile Train, being a fervent advocate for anti-bullying, dating violence awareness and prevention, immigration rights and reform, and shedding light on my roots as the first Venezuelan-American woman to win Miss USA," Voigt explained. "Never could I have imagined the journey that my childhood dream would take me on.

"Constant and consistent hard work and dedication all lead me to where I am today, and I hope that over 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," she added.

In a statement to the media, the pageant organizers said that they respected and supported 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," the statement read. The organizers added that they were "currently reviewing plans for the transition of responsibilities to a successor," and that an official announcement would be coming soon.