In a surprise move, Miss USA Noelia Voigt announced she was forgoing her crown.
The 24-year-old Utah native cited her mental health as the explanation she is stepping down from the title she was awarded on September 29, 2023.
“I realize this may come as a huge shock to many,” she wrote within the caption of an Instagram post on Monday. “Never jeopardize your physical and mental well-being. Our health is our wealth.”
Voigt continued: “A big thank you to all of you for your constant and unwavering support. Time to write the next chapter. I hope you stick around to see what’s next” with a heart emoji.
“In life, I deeply value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health… My journey as Miss USA was incredibly meaningful, I proudly represented Utah and later the USA at Miss Universe. “Unfortunately, I have made the very difficult decision to forgo the title of Miss USA 2023.
“I could never have imagined the journey my childhood dream would take me on,” she continued. “Continuous and consistent hard work and dedication have gotten me to where I am today and I hope that the last seven years of competing and sharing my journey with all of you inspires you to never let your dreams slip to give up, whatever Maybe they are.”
The Miss USA Organization addressed Voigt's resignation in an announcement to The Daily News, which was also shared on social media:
The 73rd Miss USA pageant is scheduled to happen on August 4th.
Voigt's announcement happens to come back during Mental Health Awareness Month, which was established in 1949.
Her decision follows the publication last month of the posthumous memoir “By the Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie's Smile and Mental Illness.” Cheslie Kryst, the winner of Miss USA 2019, died by suicide on January 30, 2022, when she jumped to her death from a high-rise complex in Manhattan.
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