UmaSofia Srivastava, the India-origin Miss Teen USA 2023, has announced her resignation, citing a misalignment of personal values with the direction of the organisation. The US high school teen from New Jersey, who won the pageant in September, earlier expressed her pride at being the first Mexican-Indian American to hold the role.
“After months of grappling with this decision, I have made the choice to resign from the title of Miss Teen USA 2023,” wrote Srivastava in a statement on her Instagram. “I look forward to the rest of the year as I finish 11th grade as part of the National Honor Society and start the college application process, knowing that my academic career has been defined by my hard work, and my hard work alone,” she added.
First Mexican-Indian American
Acknowledging Srivastava’s decision, Miss Teen USA issued a statement on Instagram, expressing respect and support while assuring the public that the well-being of titleholders remains a top priority. “UmaSofia, we are wishing you all the best. Thank you for your service as Miss Teen USA. 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,” ‘missteenusa’ said in a post on Instagram,
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The Miss Teen USA stated that plans for transitioning responsibilities to a successor are underway and that an announcement regarding the new Miss Teen USA will be made soon. Srivastava’s resignation sparked speculation on social media, with users questioning the circumstances surrounding her decision. Some compared it to the recent resignation of Noelia Voit, Miss USA 2022, who stepped down on May 6, citing the beginning of a new chapter and advocating for prioritizing mental health.
