Current:Home > ScamsMoms of Former Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Detail Daughters' "Nightmare" Experiences -Achieve Wealth Network
Moms of Former Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Detail Daughters' "Nightmare" Experiences
View
Date:2025-04-18 13:50:30
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! (281)
Related
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- Why Kelly Clarkson Feels a “Weight Has Lifted” After Moving Her Show to NYC
- Dak Prescott, Cowboys rally in fourth quarter for a 20-17 victory over the Chargers
- Pink Cancels Concerts Due to Family Medical Issues
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Is the ivory-billed woodpecker officially extinct? Not yet, but these 21 animals are
- Mandy Moore Reveals What She Learned When 2-Year-Old Son Gus Had Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome
- Donald Trump is going back to court. Here’s what he’s missed since his last visit to NYC fraud trial
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- Israel-Hamas war means one less overseas option for WNBA players with Russia already out
Ranking
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- Four men held in central Georgia jail escaped and a search is underway, sheriff says
- Suzanne Somers dies at 76: 'Three's Company' co-star Joyce DeWitt, husband Alan Hamel mourn actress
- Suzanne Somers, star of 'Three's Company' and 'Step by Step,' dead at 76
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- Colombia signs three-month cease-fire with FARC holdout group
- IOC president Thomas Bach has done enough damage. Don't give him time to do more.
- Schumer, Romney rush into Tel Aviv shelter during Hamas rocket attack
Recommendation
Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
Wisconsin Senate to pass $2 billion income tax cut, reject Evers’ $1 billion workforce package
Why Kelly Clarkson Feels a “Weight Has Lifted” After Moving Her Show to NYC
'We're not monsters': Community mourns 6-year-old amidst fears of anti-Muslim hate
Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
21 Dog Walking Products to Make Your Daily Strolls Less Ruff
Five snubs from the USA TODAY Sports men's college basketball preseason poll
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says U.S. working on safe passage of Americans out of Gaza into Egypt