Miss Teen USA 2023, UmaSofia Srivastava (left) and Miss USA 2023, Noelia Voigt attend a New York Fashion Week Celebrity Event on Feb. 10, 2024 in New York City.

UmaSofia Srivastava, Miss Teen USA from NJ, resigns

A New Jersey native who was named Miss Teen USA 2023 gave up her title this week simply days after the reigning Miss USA and the group’s social media director resigned as nicely.

UmaSofia Srivastava, 17, made her announcement on Instagram Wednesday, saying she was stepping down from Miss USA as a result of “my private values now not absolutely align with the path of the group.” She added that she’s going to proceed her “relentless advocacy for training and acceptance” by way of promotion of “the “The White Jaguar,” the youngsters’s guide she wrote and illustrated, and her ongoing work with a number of nonprofit organizations.

UmaSofia on Instagram: “Thanks to everybody who has supported me these previous two years, it has really been an honor to symbolize you all. Whereas this was actually not how I noticed my reign coming to a detailed, I’m excited to proceed my advocacy for training and acceptance, begin making use of to high schools, and share some thrilling new initiatives on That is Fan Habits with these of you who plan to stay round 🥰 On the finish of the day, I’m so fortunate to have had the privilege of this expertise, but when that is only a chapter, I do know that the story of my life will really be unimaginable. Love, UmaSofia “The White Jaguar” is obtainable for buy on the @barnesandnoble web site. All proceeds go to @lotuspetalfoundation and @wwf 🐆🤍”

The Miss Teen USA group launched an announcement of gratitude towards Srivastava introduced that her successor can be topped quickly.

“We respect and help UmaSofia’s determination to step down from her duties,” the assertion learn. “The well-being of our titleholders is a high precedence.”

Srivastava, of Morris Plains, was topped Miss Teen USA on the group’s most up-to-date pageant in Reno, Nevada, on Sept. 28. She turned the primary New Jersey resident to earn the crown in addition to the primary winner of Mexican-Indian descent.

Srivastava’s determination comes simply two days after Miss USA 2023, Noelia Voigt, introduced her resignation on Instagram, citing the necessity to prioritize her psychological well being. Miss USA social media director Claudia Michelle additionally stepped down from her place final week in a put up on her web page, alleging an absence of artistic management in her position together with administration’s “unprofessional and inappropriate” actions towards Srivastava and Voigt.

“Being provided your dream job and seeing that it was something however was so disheartening,” Michelle wrote.

Now that she has stepped down as Miss Teen USA, Srivastava mentioned she is wanting ahead to ending her junior 12 months and beginning the faculty software course of. She can be pursuing a challenge that can be obtainable to subscribers of her private weblog, That is Fan Habits.

“Most significantly,” Srivastava wrote, “thanks to those that help me for who I’m and have all the time been, not for who I’ve momentarily develop into.”