Miss USA pageant’s biggest controversies revealed after 2023 winners quit over ‘bullying’ – as reigning queen hits back

The MISS USA pageants have seen more than their fair share of controversies – amid allegations of bullying and nightmarish management.

But the reigning Miss Teen USA winner has hit back after two beauty queens ditched their crowns.

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Addie Carver, Miss Mississippi Teen USA, won Miss Teen USA 2024 on Thursday night in Los Angeles, California.

The 17-year-old is a cheerleader, dance teacher and choreographer from Mississippi.

And she told the judges her hopes if she managed to win the crown.

She promised to make it her “mission to know that every girl who is like me, once upon a time, is never alone.”

Carver was referring to mental health issues following the death of her father when she was just 13 years old.

Miss Georgia Ava Colindres is this year’s runner-up and will serve as Miss Teen USA if Carver is unable to fulfill her duties.

But many of the beauty queens seemed upbeat and positive about their roles — despite a controversial few months.

In May, Miss USA winners Noelia Voigt and UmaSofia Srivastava, Miss Teen USA, relinquished their titles within days of each other, impressing officials at the Miss Universe Organization.

It was the first time in the show’s history that the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants saw both champions suddenly abandon their crowns.

“Her dream job turned out to be a nightmare,” said Miss Teen’s mother, Barbara Srivastava.

“We could not continue this charade. The girls decided to resign and give up their lifelong dream: a crown, a national title.”

This meant Srivastava was unable to crown his successor on Thursday night.

“Since Miss USA was created in 1952, no titleholder has ever voluntarily resigned,” reported Vox.

In his resignation letter, Voigt, 24, cited a “toxic work environment.”

She also said she suffered from “heart palpitations, full-body tremors, loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, loss of sleep, hair loss and more.”

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

But there were other controversial moments.

Contestants in the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants could not get married or have children until 2023, it was pointed out Business Insider.

Still, Mary Leona Gage entered the pageant in 1957 and didn’t tell her bosses that she was married with two children, reported The Baltimore sun.

Organizers later revoked her title, crown and awards.

The contests have also been rocked by allegations of fraud – with organizers taking legal action to dispute these claims.

In 2022, the fraud allegations were found to be false after a “thorough and extensive investigation,” said the Miss Universe Organization, which administers the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants.

POSITIVE

This month’s glamorous teen pageant revealed contestants were feeling positive about the future.

Miss Georgia said winning would make her grandmother proud as she moved to the US to pursue the American dream.

Miss Arizona said taking the crown would mean she would have the privilege of representing an organization that celebrates women when they are often forgotten.

The judges were told by Miss Tennessee that winning the crown would inspire her as a business owner.

And Miss West Virginia said winning the pageant would mean people like her from small states wouldn’t be forgotten.

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