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Indian-origin Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava steps down
Srivastava also reflected on her tenure, describing the experience of representing her state as a first-generation Mexican-Indian American at the national level as fulfilling.
Crowning moment Miss Teen 2023 / Image- Instagram (@umasofia)
Mexican-Indian American UmaSofia Srivastava, who won the title of Miss Teen USA 2023, has decided to relinquish her crown, just two days after Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt's resignation.
In a statement shared on her Instagram, the 17-year-old provided a cryptic reason for her resignation, stating "my personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization."
"After months of grappling with this decision, I have chosen to resign from the title of Miss Teen USA 2023," Srivastava wrote. "I am grateful for all the support from my family, my state directors, my sister queens, and the fans who have cheered me on since I won my state title."
Srivastava, who hails from New Jersey, also reflected on her tenure, describing the experience of representing her state as a first-generation Mexican-Indian American at the national level as fulfilling.
Despite her resignation from the beauty pageant circuit, Srivastava affirmed her commitment to advocacy work. She pledged to continue supporting causes related to education and acceptance through her involvement with organizations such as The Lotus Petal Foundation and the Bridge of Books Foundation.
The teenager, who is the author of the multilingual children's book 'The White Jaguar’ also hinted at a forthcoming writing project. Looking ahead, Srivastava mentioned plans to apply to colleges as she completes her 11th grade.
The timing of Srivastava's resignation, following closely on the heels of Voigt's departure, raises eyebrows. Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in September 2023, cited prioritizing mental health as the reason for her decision, expressing a desire to inspire others to do the same.
Voight, who was crowned in September 2023, revealed in an Instagram post, "In life, I strongly value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health."
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