Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava’s life after controversial exit – she insisted it was ‘definitely not my first choice’

A BEAUTY queen is following a completely different path – away from the glitz and glamour – after she controversially ditched her crown.

However, UmaSofia Srivastava remains the reigning Miss Teen USA 2023 in absentia as the runner-up refused to take her place.

Chelsea Lauren/Miss Teen USA

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In May, the winners of Miss USA, Noelia Voigt, and Miss Teen USA resigned from their titles within days of each other, stunning officials at the Miss Universe Organization.

It was the first time that the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants saw both titleholders suddenly ditch their crowns.

Internet sleuths claimed that Voigt’s cryptic post about her departure contained the message, “I am silenced.”

The moms of both women later told Good Morning America that their daughters’ experience had been anything but a dream.

“The job of their dreams turned out to be a nightmare,” Barbara Srivastava said.

“We could not continue this charade. The girls decided to step down and give (up) their dream of a lifetime — a crown, a national title.”

WHO WILL CROWN WINNER?

The spotlight has pi voted to both beauty queens this week, as Los Angeles is tonight hosting the teen contest’s final, ahead of the Miss USA pageant next Monday.

One big question buzzing around social media ahead of the Miss Teen USA competition is – who will crown this year’s winner?

There is confusion as Stephanie Skinner, the New York titleholder who was the first runner-up, declined an invitation to replace Srivastava.

Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii , last year’s first runner-up in the Miss USA battle, replaced Voigt.

So, the job of crowning the two new beauty queens might fall on her shoulders, predicted CNN .

“The big question is, who will crown the new Miss Teen USA since UmaSofia resigned,” Pageant Talk Overload asked on Facebook .

“UmaSofia is still the reigning Miss Teen USA 2023 in absentia.”

This is a direct ramification of really bad management.

Claudia Engelhardt ex-social media director, Miss USA Organization

But the beauty queen is busy with other interests, according to social media posts.

On July 22, for example, she visited YWCA Princeton to read her new book, The White Jaguar, to the children, as part of the institution’s summer enrichment program.

“The children had a blast reading along with her,” the YWCA said.

“She encouraged the eager listeners to embrace their differences and realize that, in the end, we are all more alike than we might think.”

STRUGGLING

When she dramatically announced her quitting in May, Srivastava admitted to spending “months of grappling with this decision.”

“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,” she wrote on Instagram .

“I will always look back on my time as Miss NJ Teen USA fondly, and the experience of representing my state as a first generation, Mexican-Indian American at the national level was fulfilling in itself.”

Srivastava also said her personal values no longer aligned with the direction of the organization.

THANKED SUPPORTERS

She said she would continue advocating for education and acceptance through her multilingual children’s book, The White Jaguar.

The beauty queen, then 17, also vowed to support her favorite non-profit organizations, saying such work “has always been my true purpose.

She was also concentrating on finishing 11th grade as part of the National Honor Society and starting the college application process.

“Most importantly, thank you to those who support me for who I am and have always been, not for who I’ve momentarily become,” Srivastava said.

She doesn’t appear to have discussed the giving up of the title any further in public – possibly due to a non-disclosure agreement.

RESPECT FOR TEEN

“This is a direct ramification of really bad management,” claimed Claudia Engelhardt, the Miss USA organization’s former social media director.

She had worked closely with both beauty queens – but also quit in May, according to an interview with Inside Edition .

The Miss USA Organization said it respected and supported Miss Teen USA’s decision to step down from her duties.

The U.S. Sun has contacted Srivastava for further comment on tonight’s pageant, and her future plans.

The Miss Universe Organization, which runs the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants, was also contacted for further comment.