Current:Home > NewsMoms of Former Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Detail Daughters' "Nightmare" Experiences -ValueMetric
Moms of Former Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Detail Daughters' "Nightmare" Experiences
View
Date:2025-04-18 09:43:00
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! (284)
Related
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- 'Beyond excited': Alex Cooper's 'Call Her Daddy' podcast inks major deal with SiriusXM
- Don’t Miss These Free People Deals Under $50 - Snag Boho Chic Styles Starting at $19 & Save Up to 65%
- A Victoria Beckham Docuseries Is Coming to Netflix: All the Posh Details
- Tony Hawk drops in on Paris skateboarding and pushes for more styles of sport in LA 2028
- Brian Flores responds to Tua Tagovailoa criticism: 'There's things that I could do better'
- 30 quotes about kindness to uplift and spread positivity
- TikTok unveils the songs of the summer, from 'Million Dollar Baby' to 'Not Like Us'
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Disney drops arbitration push, agrees to have wrongful death lawsuit decided in court
Ranking
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Elevated lead levels found in drinking water at Oakland, California, public schools
- Trial date set for June for man accused of trying to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh
- PHOTO COLLECTION: Election 2024 DNC Day 2
- Small twin
- Jennifer Lopez files to divorce Ben Affleck on second wedding anniversary
- FACT FOCUS: A look at claims made during the second night of the Democratic National Convention
- Government: U.S. economy added 818,000 fewer jobs than first reported in year that ended in March
Recommendation
Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
Utah lawsuit seeks state control over vast areas of federal land
Why Lane Kiffin, Jeff Lebby, Chris Beard have longer contracts than Mississippi law allows
Driver distracted by social media leading to fatal Arizona freeway crash gets 22 1/2 years
RFK Jr. grilled again about moving to California while listing New York address on ballot petition
Fans pile into final Wembley Stadium show hoping Taylor Swift will announce 'Reputation'
Company that sent AI calls mimicking Joe Biden to New Hampshire voters agrees to pay $1 million fine
NYC parks worker charged with murder as a hate crime in killing of migrant