Miss USA Organization Faces Accusations Amidst Leadership Crisis

This week, former Miss USA Organization employees have come forward to accuse its leadership—especially President and CEO Laylah Rose—of fostering a poisonous work environment. Noelia Voigt, who just quit as Miss USA, sent an eight-page resignation letter that Yahoo News was able to see that described the strain and lack of support she felt under Rose’s direction. Voigt outlined in the letter how it was bad for her physical health, mentioning weight loss, heart palpitations, and other ailments.

Rose is charged with abusive behavior and having an ego-driven, manipulative leadership style. Claudia Engelhardt, the former social media director for Miss USA, echoed Voigt’s worries. The charges have emerged in the middle of a string of resignations from the group, including Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, who quit not long after Voigt.

In his resignation letter, Voigt lists incidents of harassment and underfunding, one of them being a startling encounter during a 2023 parade. Voigt also voiced displeasure with Miss USA’s social media presence and Rose’s purported micromanagement.

Rose has been scrutinized during her leadership of the Miss USA Organization because of earlier charges of a manipulated pageant. Voices both inside and outside the organization are demanding responsibility and reform as a new Miss USA is about to be crowned. Voigt and Engelhardt stress the need of preserving the principles of empowerment and support inside the company and hope that their acts will lead to changes and improved management techniques.