Miss USA Noelia Voigt steps down after just seven months to prioritize her 'mental and physical health'

Reigning Miss USA Noelia Voigt announced her resignation just seven months after winning the pageant to focus on her 'physical and mental well-being.'

Voigt, 24, declared that she would be stepping down in a statement posted to Instagram Monday, days after posting a photo taken at the Kentucky Derby.

'In life, I strongly value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health,' she wrote.

'My journey as Miss USA has been incredibly meaningful, representing Utah with pride, and later the USA at Miss Universe. Sadly, I have made the very tough decision to resign from the title of Miss USA 2023.'

Voigt was awarded the title last September after campaigning on messages of anti-bullying, dating violence awareness and immigration reform. She was the first Venezuelan-American woman to win the pageant.

Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt announced her resignation in an Instagram post, days after she appeared at the Kentucky Derby

Voigt, 24, was crowned last September after campaigning on messages of anti-bullying and immigration reform, but plans to step down to prioritize her 'physical and mental well-being'

'In life, I strongly value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health,' Voigt wrote in Monday's announcement

'I realize this may come as a large shock to many,' Voigt captioned the post. 'Never compromise your physical and mental well-being.'

Her announcement came just days after she appeared at the Kentucky Derby wearing a dress from Sherri Hill, a brand she has worked with extensively in the past.

Miss USA is a national beauty pageant that selects the entrant from the United States in the Miss Universe pageant. It has been held every year since 1952.

Shortly after Voigt's announcement, the Miss USA Organization released its own statement on social media.

'Thank you, Noelia, for your service as Miss USA. We wish you the best in this next chapter,' the statement began.

'We respect and support former Miss USA Noelia Voigt’s decision to step down from her duties. The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself at this time.'

The organization added it has begun the process of transferring Voigt's responsibilities to a successor.

The competition, which advertises itself as 'a staple in the pageant industry,' has long been marred by both controversy and tragedy. 

The Miss USA Organization released its own statement thanking Voigt for her 'service' and announcing that a successor would assume her responsibilities

The pageant has been marred with controversy, including the suicide of Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst

Kryst, who jumped to her death from a Manhattan high-rise in January 2022, detailed in a posthumous memoir how the backlash over her win led to her taking her own life

Several contestants later alleged that Miss USA Organization's former vice president, Max Sebrechts, had sexually harassed them

Sebrechts' wife Crystle Stewart - a former winner herself - was suspended from her role as national director of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA and later resigned

Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst jumped to her death from a Manhattan high-rise in January 2022.

In a posthumous memoir released last month, Kryst detailed how the backlash that she faced in the wake of her victory led to her decision to take her own life. 

The same year as her death, contestants accused the organization of giving preferential treatment to R’Bonney Gabriel, who was ultimately crowned the winner.

As an investigation ensued, Miss USA's umbrella corporation, Miss Brands, was suspended by the global Miss Universe Organization.

Claims of sexual harassment later cropped up, with several contestants alleging that Miss USA Organization's former vice president, Max Sebrechts, made unwelcome advances towards them.

Amid the fallout, Sebrechts' wife Crystle Stewart - a former winner herself - was suspended from her role as national director of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.

She officially stepped down in August 2023 and was replaced by fashion designer Laylah Rose. 

Miss USA later announced that the rigging claims had been disproven through an 'extensive investigation'.

Voigt's resignation is not the first time a winner has relinquished her title, either.

Mary Leona Gage, the pageant's 1957 winner, was forced to step down when it was revealed that she had lied about her age and masked other details about her life, including the fact that she was twice-married and the mother of two young children.

In an online bio, Voight said her dream is 'to establish her own design firm and host a TV show, where she gives back to families in need of a home makeover'

She won a series of competitions prior to being named Miss USA, including Miss Teen Florida United States, Miss Collegiate America and Miss Alabama USA

She is the author of a children's book dedicated to a nine-year-old who died by suicide due to school bullying and has worked extensively with Smile Train

It is unclear if Voigt will now turn her focus to the goals laid out in a biography on the Miss USA Organization's website.

According to the bio, her dream is 'to establish her own design firm and host a TV show, where she gives back to families in need of a home makeover'.

Voigt was born in Sarasota, Florida, to a Venezuelan mother and American father, Jack David Voigt, a professional baseball player whose lengthy career included a coaching stint with the New York Mets.

She attended Pine View School for the Gifted in Osprey, Florida, and won the Miss Teen Florida United States competition at 18 years old. After graduating, she went on to attend the University of Alabama and the National Design Academy UK.

Voigt previously participated in the Miss Collegiate America pageant system, securing the title of Miss Alabama Collegiate America in 2020.

Shortly after her victory, she wrote a children's book titled 'Maddie the Brave' in honor of Madison Whittsett, a nine-year-old Alabama girl who died by suicide after relentless bullying by her school peers.

After reaching the first runner-up position at Miss Alabama USA for the second time in a row, Voigt moved to Utah in April 2023 and competed for the title of Miss Utah USA 2023.

She won her adoptive state pageant and continued on to represent Utah at Miss USA 2023.

After her crowning, Voight embarked on a global tour promoting Smile Train, a nonprofit that provides funding and support to medical professionals to provide free cleft palate surgery.