Current:Home > StocksMoms of Former Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Detail Daughters' "Nightmare" Experiences -GrowthProspect
Moms of Former Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Detail Daughters' "Nightmare" Experiences
View
Date:2025-04-19 18:03:07
The moms of former Miss USA and Miss Teen USA are speaking up for their daughters.
A week after Noelia Voigt and UmaSofia Srivastava rocked the pageant world by sharing their decisions to step down from their respective roles their moms Jackeline Voigt and Barbara Srivastava shared more insight into their daughters' experiences with the pageant organization.
"I want to make it clear, it's not about what they can get, the prizes," Barbara said on Good Morning America May 14 in a joint interview with Jackeline. "It's about how they were ill-treated, abused, bullied and cornered."
"The job of their dreams turned out to be a nightmare," she continued. "We could not continue this charade."
The pair said that Noelia—who cited mental health for her decision—and UmaSofia, who expressed that her personal values no longer aligned with the organization, are bound by confidentiality clauses that prevented them from speaking out.
Jackeline recalled to GMA the first time she knew something was wrong when Noelia, who was crowned Miss USA in September, was approached by a man at a Christmas parade in Florida, an encounter that she ultimately reported to the organization.
"I saw Noelia so stressed out, and I said, 'What happened?'" Jackeline recalled. "She said, 'Mom, get in the car.' When I got in the car, I said, ‘What happened?' because I know he said something but I couldn't get it."
"He told Noelia, 'Are you into old men with money?'" she continued. "And made Noelia very, very uncomfortable." Jackeline alleged that when the 24-year-old told the organization, Miss USA CEO and President Laylah Rose responded to Noelia by noting the organization couldn't prevent people from saying things to her during public appearances.
After Noelia resigned, Barbara said UmaSofia, who also won her title in September, was ready to follow suit.
"When she saw that they were tying in Noelia's mental health," Barbara recounted of Noelia's resignation, UmaSofia said, "'I cannot stand for this. I need to stand up for Noelia.'"
Jackeline and Barbara are calling for Laylah to step down from her role and are urging pageant participants to reconsider their decision to compete.
"Look at what happened to Noelia and UmaSofia," Jackeline shared. "So, really pay attention. We don't want them to go through this right now. It's not the right time to participate."
She added, "We just don't want these families and these girls to go through what we went through."
In a statement to ABC News, The Miss USA Organization shared, "We are committed to fostering a healthy, communicative and supportive environment for all contestants, state titleholders, national titleholders and staff."
She concluded her letter by writing that she feels it is unsafe for future Miss Universe Organization title holders, adding, "Every statement you have ever put out about MUO's morals and integrity directly contradicts what is happening within the USA organization."
While Noelia expressed her gratitude for her time as Miss USA in her statement on social media, her resignation to the organization, obtained by NBC News May 9, offered a much more candid reflection of her experience.
The eight-page letter, per the outlet, described "a toxic work environment within the Miss USA Organization that, at best, is poor management and, at worst, is bullying and harassment."
Noelia further accused Laylah of speaking badly of her to others in the organization.
She concluded her letter by writing that she feels it is unsafe for future Miss Universe Organization title holders, adding, "Every statement you have ever put out about MUO's morals and integrity directly contradicts what is happening within the USA organization."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (765)
Related
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- A U.S. uranium mill is near this tribe. A study may reveal if it poses a health risk
- People who want to visit the world's tallest living tree now risk a $5,000 fine
- Science In The City: Cylita Guy Talks Chasing Bats And Tracking Rats
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- Flood-damaged Death Valley will reopen popular sites to the public
- 11 more tips on how to stay cool without an A/C, recommended by NPR's readers
- Facing legislative failure, Biden announces incremental climate initiatives
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- The Ultimatum Reveals First-Ever Queer Love Season Trailer and Premiere Date
Ranking
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- It's Texas' hottest summer ever. Can the electric grid handle people turning up AC?
- Nuclear power is gaining support after years of decline. But old hurdles remain
- A New Mexico firewatcher describes watching his world burn
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- A New Mexico firewatcher describes watching his world burn
- Coachella 2023: See Shawn Mendes, Ariana Madix and More Stars Take Over the Music Festival
- The strange underground economy of tree poaching
Recommendation
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
Vanderpump Rules' Raquel Leviss Seeking Mental Health Treatment
Climate protesters in England glued themselves to a copy of 'The Last Supper'
People who want to visit the world's tallest living tree now risk a $5,000 fine
This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
Can Fragrances Trigger Arousal? These Scents Will Get You in the Mood, According to a Perfumer
Pakistan's floods have killed more than 1,000. It's been called a climate catastrophe
Biden has a $369 billion climate plan — and new advisers to get the program running