Miss Teen USA, a New Jersey native, resigns citing 'personal values'

A New Jersey native who was named Miss Teen USA 2023 gave up her title this week just days after the reigning Miss USA and the organization's social media director resigned as well.

UmaSofia Srivastava, 17, made her announcement on Instagram Wednesday, saying she was stepping down from Miss USA because "my personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization." She added that she will continue her "relentless advocacy for education and acceptance" through promotion of "the "The White Jaguar," the children's book she wrote and illustrated, and her ongoing work with several nonprofit organizations.

The Miss Teen USA organization released a statement of gratitude toward Srivastava announced that her successor will be crowned soon.

"We respect and support UmaSofia’s decision to step down from her duties," the statement read. "The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority."

Srivastava, of Morris Plains, was crowned Miss Teen USA at the organization's most recent pageant in Reno, Nevada, on Sept. 28. She became the first New Jersey resident to earn the crown as well as the first winner of Mexican-Indian descent.

Srivastava's decision comes just two days after Miss USA 2023, Noelia Voigt, announced her resignation on Instagram, citing the need to prioritize her mental health. Miss USA social media director Claudia Michelle also stepped down from her position last week in a post on her page, alleging a lack of creative control in her role along with management's "unprofessional and inappropriate" actions toward Srivastava and Voigt.

"Being offered your dream job and seeing that it was anything but was so disheartening," Michelle wrote.

Now that she has stepped down as Miss Teen USA, Srivastava said she is looking forward to finishing her junior year and starting the college application process. She is also pursuing a project that will be available to subscribers of her personal blog, That's Fan Behavior.

"Most importantly," Srivastava wrote, "thank you to those who support me for who I am and have always been, not for who I've momentarily become."