Miss USA Noelia Voigt announced Monday she is relinquishing her crown to prioritize her mental health.
Voigt, 24, who captured the Miss USA crown in September, posted on Instagram that she is resigning.
“In life, I strongly value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health. As individuals, we grow through experiencing different things in life that lead us to learning more about ourselves,” she wrote.
“My journey as Miss USA has been incredibly meaningful, representing Utah with pride, and later the USA at Miss Universe," Voigt said. "Sadly, I have made the very tough decision to resign from the title of Miss USA 2023.”
The Miss USA Pageant said in a statement to NBC News that it respect's Voigt's decision and has accepted her resignation.
“We respect and support former Miss USA Noelia Voigt’s decision to step down from her duties," the organization said Monday. "The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself at this time."
The group said it is reviewing plans for "the transition of responsibilities to a successor" and will make an announcement soon.
Voigt wrote she was grateful for having the platform to speak on social issues such as anti-bullying, dating violence, immigration rights and reforms and her heritage as the first Venezuelan-American woman to hold the crown as Miss USA.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/miss-usa-noelia-voigt-resigns-cites-mental-health-relinquishing-crown-rcna150931