Ex-Miss USA Noelia Voigt Stands With Contestants Against Insulting Remarks
Noelia Voigt, previously Miss USA, is expressing solidarity with her fellow beauty pageant participants.
Following the walkout by Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch and other competitors, who felt insulted by Miss Universe executive Nawat Itsaragrisil, Voigt, 26, publicly voiced her complete backing for the women who took action.
“Upon waking yesterday morning and witnessing the video of the incident spreading online, I felt surprised, repulsed, let down, and truly appalled,” she shared on Instagram on Wednesday, November 5. “Having held the title of Miss USA 2023 and subsequently chosen to relinquish it, I know firsthand the sensation of having one's opinion disregarded and one's self-respect undermined.”
A widely shared video showed Itsaragrisil referring to Bosch, 25, as a “dumb head,” a term signifying “foolish” or “brainless.”
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“You need to hear me out first, and then you can debate me,” he continued. (Itsaragrisil has since offered an apology for his remarks, stating he is “human” and “had no intention of behaving in such a way.”)
“I believe you have to comprehend the immense pressure; I am occasionally just a person,” Itsaragrisil expressed during the event. “I lose control. Furthermore, I did not mean to cause harm to anyone.”
Voigt relinquished her Miss USA title in May 2024, citing mental health reasons. In her recent declaration, the influencer asserted that the treatment the contestants endured this week does not align with the essence of the pageant industry.
“When I started participating in pageants in 2017, Miss USA and Miss Universe represented emblems of strength — stages capable of profoundly changing a woman’s existence,” she commented. “What I observed yesterday utterly contradicts that purpose, and it does not resonate with my personal values or convictions, nor do I think it reflects the Miss Universe Organization or its genuine leadership.”
Within her social media message, Voigt extended gratitude to Bosch for her “courage” and “resolute position.”
“Your act of defending yourself and the other women present, and indeed globally, is monumental,” she stated. “You already bear a symbol of strength, and it is evident to all.”
Voigt additionally commended Miss Universe Denmark’s Victoria Kjær and all the other contestants who emulated Bosch's actions by departing.
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“Your stand conveyed a message more potent than language: We refuse to be muzzled. We refuse to be shamed. We refuse to be stripped of our humanity. We refuse to be demeaned,” she penned. “To those in positions of authority, regardless of gender: Treat individuals with basic human respect. To women globally, your perspectives are essential. Responsibility and transformation start when individuals like us declare: This is intolerable, and we will not permit it.”
The Miss Universe organization issued a video statement on Tuesday, November 4, where President Raúl Rocha Cantú vehemently condemned Itsaragrisil’s “unacceptable behavior” toward Bosch.
“I will not permit the core principles of respect and female dignity to be undermined,” he declared, subsequently vowing “organizational and legal measures” as a consequence.
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Rocha Cantú further revealed that Itsaragrisil’s involvement in engagements connected to the 74th Miss Universe competition would be “curtailed,” “either minimizing it significantly or removing it completely.”
Presently, Voigt is emphasizing her unwavering commitment to advocacy and backing for beauty pageant participants globally.
“I appreciate your presence. I appreciate your courage to take a stand,” she concluded. “Let us continue to stand united.”
