(Xeeis) — Noelia Voigt, representing Utah, achieved the title of Miss USA 2023 during a dazzling event held at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. The pageant was broadcast live on the CW Network, captivating audiences across the nation. The first runner-up in this prestigious competition was Savannah Gankiewicz, proudly representing Hawaii.
The journey to victory was no easy feat for Noelia Voigt, who triumphed over 50 other talented titleholders. The competition began with 20 finalists, further narrowing down to the final five contestants after the swimwear and evening gown rounds. Alongside Voigt and Gankiewicz were Jasmine Daniels from Pennsylvania, Lluvia Alzate representing Texas, and Alexis Loomans hailing from Wisconsin.
During the critical final Q&A round, Noelia Voigt was asked what she would bring to the Miss Universe Organization as a “brand ambassador” and Miss USA. In response, she highlighted her identity as a “bilingual Venezuelan-American” and pledged to foster connections with diverse communities throughout the United States.
The panel of judges for this momentous event included notable figures such as Vivica A. Fox, former “Real Housewife” Luann de Lesseps, and renowned beauty vlogger Patrick Starrr.
This year’s Miss USA pageant aimed to revitalize a 70-year-old tradition with a modern and progressive approach, as emphasized by Laylah Rose, the President and CEO of the Miss USA Organization, in a statement released earlier in September. A significant change this year was the inclusion of the first married state titleholder, Juliana Morehouse-Locklear from Maine. (It’s worth noting that Morehouse-Locklear, the daughter of a contestant in the 1994 Miss USA pageant, did not advance to the top 20.)
Noelia Voigt’s victory as Miss USA 2023 marks a new chapter, succeeding the reigning 2022 Miss USA, Morgan Romano of North Carolina. Romano took over the title from R’Bonney Gabriel, who, as a Texan, was crowned the 2022 Miss Universe in January.
It’s important to note that Gabriel’s victory in the 2022 Miss USA pageant was shadowed by claims made by some fellow contestants, alleging that the pageant had been unfairly influenced in her favor. In response to these allegations, the Miss Universe Organization initiated an investigation and suspended the then-Miss USA national director, Crystle Stewart, who herself was the winner of the 2008 Miss USA pageant. Both Gabriel and Stewart vehemently denied any wrongdoing, with Gabriel emphasizing that there was “no unfair advantage and nothing was rigged.” Stewart, in a statement, expressed her commitment to providing equal opportunities for all contestants.
In August, the pageant officially announced the end of its partnership with Crystle Stewart. The decision followed a comprehensive investigation that found the accusations against the pageant to be false. The Miss USA Organization stated that, despite discussions, an agreement regarding Stewart and Miss Brand’s ongoing involvement couldn’t be reached. Crystle Stewart opted to leverage her success with the Miss USA Organization to pursue other entrepreneurial passions.
In a separate event held at the Grand Sierra Resort, UmaSofia Srivastava, a 16-year-old from New Jersey, was crowned Miss Teen USA. The first runner-up in the Miss Teen USA competition was Stephanie Skinner, a 19-year-old from New York.