Current:Home > ContactMoms of Former Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Detail Daughters' "Nightmare" Experiences -TradeWisdom
Moms of Former Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Detail Daughters' "Nightmare" Experiences
View
Date:2025-04-15 17:57:38
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! (92483)
Related
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Russia claims woman admits to carrying bomb that killed pro-war blogger in St. Petersburg cafe
- Little boy abandoned in Egyptian church finally back with foster parents after yearlong battle
- Russia arrests Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, accuses him of spying for U.S.
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- How Bitcoin Has Fueled Ransomware Attacks
- Digging Daisy Jones & The Six's '70s Style? Amazon's Epic Collection Is the Vibe
- Scale, Details Of Massive Kaseya Ransomware Attack Emerge
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Cara Delevingne Shares Why She Checked Herself Into Rehab
Ranking
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- Why Women Everywhere Trust Jen Atkin's OUAI Hair Products
- Alibaba is splitting company into 6 business groups
- American tourist shot in the leg in resort town on Mexico's Caribbean coast
- Trump's 'stop
- Local groups work to give Ukrainian women soldiers uniforms that fit
- Vanderpump Rules’ Scheana Shay Denies Punching Liar and a Cheat Raquel Leviss
- How Raquel Leviss Tried to Apologize to Ariana Madix Amid Tom Sandoval Affair Claim, According to Source
Recommendation
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
Missing: Pet 5-year-old Bengal tiger stolen from home in Mexico
Where No Plywood Has Gone Before: A Space Agency Will Launch A Tiny, Wooden Satellite
The Senate Passes A Bill To Encourage Tech Competition, Especially With China
Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
Why Beauties Everywhere Love Lady Gaga's Haus Labs Makeup
Naked and Afraid Is Bringing Back 4 Past Survivalists for Their Ultimate Redemption
TikToker Alexandra Xandra Pohl Shares Her Secrets For Crushing It In a Man's Game