Miss Teen USA, UmaSofia Srivastava, resigned from her title on Wednesday, just days after Miss USA did the same.
In a post on Instagram, Srivastava said she had been “grappling with this decision” for months, but ultimately came to the decision to resign, saying, “I find that my personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.”
“While this was certainly not how I saw my reign coming to a close, I am excited to continue my advocacy for education and acceptance, start applying to colleges, and share some exciting new projects,” she wrote in the caption of her post.
“At the end of the day, I am so lucky to have had the privilege of this experience, but if this is just a chapter, I know that the story of my life will truly be incredible,” she continued.
In her post, Srivastava described herself as a first-generation Mexican-Indian American and said she was excited to finish 11th grade and start the college application process, “knowing that my academic career has been defined by my hard work, and my hard work alone.”
The announcement comes just two days after Noelia Voigt, the woman who holds the title of Miss USA, announced she’s giving up her crown. She cited her “physical and mental well-being” in an announcement about her resignation.
Miss Teen USA responded to Srivastava’s news in a post on Instagram, wishing her the best and saying they would crown a new Miss Teen USA at some unspecified point.
“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,” the post read.
