Lifestyle
Miss USA and Miss Teen USA resign days apart, casting a spotlight on the organization
Miss Teen USA, UmaSofia Srivastava, left, and Miss USA, Noelia Voigt pictured at a New York Fashion Week event in February. They both announced their resignations this week.
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Supermodels Unlimited
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Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Supermodels Unlimited
Miss Teen USA, UmaSofia Srivastava, left, and Miss USA, Noelia Voigt pictured at a New York Fashion Week event in February. They both announced their resignations this week.
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Supermodels Unlimited
The 2023 Miss USA and Miss Teen USA relinquished their crowns within days of each other this week, leaving their parent organization without its two biggest titleholders — and under mounting scrutiny.
Their departures are the latest in a string of recent controversies at the Miss USA and Miss Universe organizations and have prompted a slew of state titleholders to publicly pressure the pageant for more transparency.
Miss USA Noelia Voigt announced her resignation in an Instagram post on Monday, citing “the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health.”
The 24-year-old became the first Venezuelan-American woman to win Miss USA in September 2023, representing Utah. In her resignation statement, she expressed her gratitude for the connections and platform from over seven years of competing in pageants and urged others to “never compromise your physical and mental well-being.”
“Deep down I know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me, and my hope is that I continue to inspire others to remain steadfast, prioritize your mental health, advocate for yourself and others by using your voice, and never be afraid of what the future holds, even if it feels uncertain,” Voigt wrote.
Eagle-eyed followers noted in the comments section that the first letters of the first 11 sentences of her statement spell out “I AM SILENCED” (the remaining three spell “HIP”).
Concerns and criticisms compounded in the days that followed, especially after Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, 17, announced her resignation in a similarly-formatted Instagram post on Wednesday.
Srivastava, of New Jersey, was also crowned in September 2023 — and said her resignation comes after “months of grappling with this decision.”
“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,” she wrote. “After careful consideration, I’ve decided to resign as I find that my personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.”
She didn’t elaborate, but added to the intrigue by opening her statement with this quote attributed to German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: “There are no beautiful surfaces without a terrible depth.”
Srivastava said she looks forward to finishing 11th grade and applying to college, as well as continuing her collaborations with education- and literacy-focused nonprofits and promoting her multilingual children’s book about acceptance, calling that work “my TRUE purpose.”
Voigt was among the many people to leave positive comments on her post, writing in part, “So proud of you my angel.”
The organization has not responded to NPR’s requests for comment.
But the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Instagram accounts each acknowledged their titleholders’ departures, in near-identical posts, thanking them for their service and wishing them the best.
“The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself at this time,” wrote the Miss USA account of Voigt. “We are currently reviewing plans for the transition of responsibilities to a successor, and we will soon announce the crowning of the new Miss USA.”
The 2024 edition of the Miss USA pageant is scheduled to take place in early August.
A Miss USA employee had resigned days earlier, slamming “workplace toxicity”
Voigt and Srivastava aren’t the only recent departures from Miss USA.
Former social media director Claudia Michelle first announced her resignation over the weekend, in an Instagram post that accused the organization of mistreating all three of them.
“Being offered your dream job and seeing that it was anything but is so disheartening,” wrote Michelle.
Michelle said she felt compelled to speak out because “this is a women’s empowerment organization,” noting she had not signed an NDA.
She said she wasn’t allowed to bring anyone else onto her social media team of one — something “absolutely necessary” for a “brand of this caliber” — and that she worked without financial compensation for her first two months on the job.
She went on to say that she witnessed “a decline in [Voigt’s] mental health since we first met” and “the disrespect toward [Srivastava] and her family,” opining that the teen titleholder didn’t get enough attention on social media.
“I’ve first hand seen Noelia and Uma be unable to share about their personal advocacies on social media and be threatened by [Miss Universe Organization] ‘social media rules and guidelines’ that I still have yet to see,” Michelle wrote. “I feel the way current management speaks about their titleholders is unprofessional and inappropriate; I disavow workplace toxicity and bullying of any kind.”
The organization told USA Today in a statement that it is “troubled to hear the false accusations made by a former Miss USA employee.”
“Miss USA is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment, and we take these allegations seriously,” it added. “Indeed, we have and will continue to prioritize the well-being of all individuals involved with Miss USA.”
After a rocky few years, titleholders are calling for “full transparency” from the organization
The Miss USA Organization has had a turbulent few years, as Business Insider reported.
In early 2022, Cheslie Kryst, the 2019 Miss USA winner, died by suicide. Later that fall, days after R’Bonney Gabriel was crowned Miss USA, other contestants publicly accused organizers of rigging the competition in her favor.
The Miss Universe Organization responded by suspending Miss USA President Crystle Stewart and launching a third-party investigation into the allegations.
Around that time, news emerged that Stewart’s husband, Max Sebrechts, had stepped down from his role as Miss USA vice president earlier that year after multiple 2021 pageant contestants accused him of sexual harassment.
In January 2023, Gabriel won the Miss Universe title, becoming the first American to do so in a decade and relinquishing her Miss USA crown to runner-up Morgan Romero of North Carolina.
In August, the Miss Universe Organization said the investigation had found the allegations of rigging to be false, but was parting ways with Stewart nonetheless. Current Miss USA President and CEO Laylah Rose was announced as her replacement that same day.
Critiques of Miss USA resurfaced since the titleholders’ resignations this week.
Several 2023 state titleholders have shared a joint statement on social media, saying the majority of the Miss USA class of 2023 supports Voigt’s decision to resign and asking the Miss USA Organization to release her from the confidentiality clause of her contract in perpetuity “so that she is free to speak on her experiences and time as Miss USA.”
The statement, which began circulating on Wednesday, requests a response within 24 hours.
“Our goal is to give Noelia her voice back,” they wrote. “We are asking for full transparency for contestants in the class of 2024 and beyond.”
Lifestyle
Romanian director Cristian Mungiu’s ‘Fjord’ wins top prize at Cannes
Left to right: Tilda Swinton poses with Renate Reinsve, Cristian Mungiu — winner of the Palme d’Or for Fjord — and Sebastian Stan, during the awards ceremony at the 79th Cannes international film festival, in southern France, on Saturday.
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Romanian director Cristian Mungiu took home the top prize at the 79th Cannes Film Festival on Saturday for his culture-war drama Fjord.
Fjord, which centers on an immigrant family living in Norway, received the Palme D’Or for best film during the closing ceremony held at the Grand Théâtre Lumière in Cannes, France. It stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve.
It’s the second Palme D’Or for Mungiu, who received his first in 2007 for the film 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days.
In his acceptance speech, Mungui said that, in making the film, “We took the risk to speak aloud about things that many of us know and many of us share … but don’t dare to say in public.”
And he urged artists to tackle current issues, however uncomfortable.
“Today, the society is split, it’s divided, it’s radicalized,” he said. “This film is a pledge against any kind of fundamentalism. It’s a pledge for the things we quote very, very often, like tolerance and inclusion and empathy. … These are lovely words, but we need to apply them more often.”
Actress Barbra Streisand, who received the festival’s third Honorary Palme D’Or, could not attend in person because of a knee injury but thanked everyone in a video message.
“In a crazy, volatile world that seems more fractured every day, it’s reassuring to see the compelling movies at this festival by artists from many countries,” Streisand said. “Film has that magical ability to unite us, opening our hearts and minds.”
Twenty-two films were competing for the prestigious prize, including American films The Man I Love (directed by Ira Sachs) and Paper Tiger (James Gray).

Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto shared the best actress honor for the talky, philosophical drama All of a Sudden. Valentin Campagne and Emmanuel Macchia won best actor Award for Coward, about a World War I love story.
Lifestyle
How to have the best Sunday in L.A, according to Taylour Paige
For L.A. cool girl and actor Taylour Paige, the perfect Sunday involves lots of shopping — shopping for statement jewelry at Maxfield, minimalist yet playful clothing at Jacquemus and vintage home decor at Pierce & Ward.
“I really love fashion,” says the Inglewood native. “I appreciate fashion. I respect fashion.”
In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
Paige’s latest project, “I Love Boosters,” is centered on fashion as well. Written and directed by Boots Riley, the maximalist film follows the Velvet Gang, a pack of small-time shoplifters (played by Paige, Keke Palmer and Naomi Ackie) as they attempt to take down a ruthless fashion mogul in the name of “fashion-forward filantrophy.” It hits theaters Friday.
Once she learned that Riley was behind the film, she knew she had to be a part of it.
“When I met Boots, he was like, ‘This is the smaller role of the three in the Velvet Gang,’ and I was like ‘I don’t care. I want to work with you,’” says Paige, who has also starred in the film “Zola” and HBO’s “It: Welcome to Derry.”
With her baby and husband by her side, here’s how the new mom would spend a Sunday in L.A.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.
7 a.m.: Take a little walk and grab a matcha
I’m a mother so I could wake up anytime between 6 to 8 a.m. When I breastfeed, he’ll actually go back to sleep but it really just depends on the night we had. I’ll have my morning matcha. There was a period where I was making my ceremonial-grade matcha at home and I would like to get back to that, but there’s something about walking to get my matcha that I just really enjoy. I like that it’s a little outing. I like the matcha at Erewhon, but only because I know that when I ask for almond milk, they’re giving me the Malk [brand] which only contains almonds and Himalayan salt. I also like Community Goods, which my homie Pedro runs. My typical breakfast is eggs with Celtic salt and I’ll drizzle some olive oil on it. Maybe I’ll have some cottage cheese or shredded carrots as well.
10:30 a.m.: Stock up at the farmers market
Once we’re up, I have to go to the farmers market in Atwater Village. I need my organic eggs, my strawberries, my lemons, my lemongrass, my hummus and my ghee. Maybe I’ll get like some gorgeous Japanese sweet potato cause I try to eat a sweet potato daily. I eat it with the skin on because you gotta get beta carotene [laughs]. Also, my husband makes this beautiful lemongrass tea that I love at night. It’s kind of been my little postpartum treat that I look forward to. I feel so feminine when I drink it. I don’t know how to explain it, but we get a big bunch at the farmers market on Sundays. Going to the farmers market makes me feel ready for the week.
12:30 p.m.: A second matcha and a late breakfast
Then we’re going to have a late breakfast at All Time. I’m getting the salmon with the crispy rice, broccoli, onions and two big eggs on top. It’s got a little bit of a tart taste. It has a special sauce that you pour on top of it. Probably because I’m sleep-deprived, I’m getting another matcha and a hot water with lemon.
2:30 p.m. Time for some shopping
Then we’re gonna stroll into Pierce & Ward, which is just a couple stores down. It’s a home interior design store. The storefront is literally the color green. It’s just beautiful. I love beautiful things. They do upholstering, but they have a lot of cute little tchotchkes. They’ve got incense. They’ve got beautiful stools, striped upholstering, but they also have, you know, soaps and again incense, and just cute things. The people are so kind in there.
Then we’re going to head over to Melrose Place. We’re going to Margiela and Violet Grey. I’m going to pop into Maxfield. I’m going to try on jewelry. I recently tried on this beautiful Jennifer Meyer emerald gold necklace that I wanted and I was like “How much?” They were like “14” and I was like “Oh, $1,400,” and they were like, “No, $14,000.” I was like, “Oh, OK, cute. I’ll be back.” They have gorgeous Phoebe Philo [pieces], Miu Miu flats, Louise Trotter’s Bottega. I’m having a ball trying things on. Maybe we’re going to swing into Jacquemus because it’s so cute. It’s like a French dream. The girls who work there are so kind and so fly. They told me that he had the couches specifically designed to look like his mom’s couches in his childhood home. They’re bright yellow. It just feels really happy and like a breath of fresh air, and obviously the clothes are beautiful.
4 p.m.: Discover new beauty brands at Formula Fig
There’s this place called Formula Fig. I’m not going to spend too much time in there. Of course they have really beautiful, curated skin care, but they also have cute random things for your hands and feet. You know how we have social media, which is constantly feeding us with things we don’t need, but because someone is selling it to us, it impacts us psychologically. I like that Formula Fig is an experience where you go into the store and discover on your own.
If we have time, we’ll hop in the car and head over to Arcana [Books on the Art]. I can ask anyone who works there, but I’ll ask Lee about absolutely anything. Let’s just say I don’t know what I want, but I know what I’m feeling, or what I want to learn more of, they’re actually art historians in there and they deeply care about books and artists and people. It ends up opening other tabs of people, artists, photographers, writers, painters, watercolor and musicians that I’ve never heard of or I’ve always wanted to know more about.
5:30 p.m.: Sushi for dinner
We’re going to drive our ass to Burbank and we’re getting Sushi Yuzu. Life hack: If they’re too full, we’ll literally go a couple blocks west and hit Kabosu, which is their sister restaurant. I’ve been going here for 10 years. It’s the greatest sushi, so fresh. I love every chef there. We’re starting with the garlic edamame, obviously. Then I’m getting the lime roll, the albacore crispy onion, the garlic sashimi, and I’m going to keep ordering and ordering and be so happy. I’ve put so many people on. I should get equity in the restaurant or something.
7:30 p.m.: Sunset walk before bed
You want a fart walk right after your meal, right? [laughs] So we’re going to go for a nice sunset walk in our neighborhood. Then we’re heading home, giving the baby a bath, I’m taking a shower and we’re going to bed at like 9:30 p.m.
Lifestyle
Shein buys Everlane, which sold millennials the dream of ethical, affordable luxury
“Affordable luxury” brand Everlane has been bought by the ultrafast-fashion giant Shein.
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Shein, the ultrafast-fashion juggernaut, is buying Everlane, a brand that once pitched millennial shoppers on a vision of fashion with “ethical factories” and “radical transparency” into how its clothes were made and priced.
“This is the start of a bigger chapter for Everlane and the team behind it,” CEO Alfred Chang said in a statement shared with NPR. He did not disclose the size of the deal, but added that Everlane would remain “an independent brand, staying true to our longstanding brand values, sustainability commitments, and exceptional quality.”
Buying California-based Everlane gives Shein a bigger U.S. foothold and access to a higher-end online-retail model. Shein was founded in China but has ballooned into a global giant, up on the latest TikTok micro-trends with dresses under $15 and jewelry under $5.
Shein shelved its plans to become a publicly traded company in either the U.S. or in Europe, as it faced extensive legal complaints and scrutiny by lawmakers on both continents, particularly over its labor practices.
For Everlane, the deal appears to present a lifeline. CEO Chang promised a new era with “expanded global reach, new capabilities, and greater opportunities.”
But Everlane fans mourned online, with posts accusing the brand of selling out and betraying them. A headline by Fast Company declared: “The era of millennial optimism is officially over.”
Once sported by celebrity fashionistas like Meghan Markle and Angelina Jolie, Everlane focuses on minimalist basics and natural fabrics in the “affordable-luxury” category, with tailored shorts for $120 and linen tops for $80.
The company came of age in the 2010s in the wave of trendy direct-to-consumer companies. Like sneaker-maker Allbirds, they wooed shoppers with pitches of sustainability and transparency. (Yes, that same Allbirds in April claimed it was pivoting to becoming an AI company).
Everlane’s finances have faltered in recent years. With debt weighing heavy on the brand, the majority owner, private equity firm L Catterton, decided to sell. Shein and L Catterton did not respond to NPR’s requests for comment. After Puck earlier reported news of the deal, it ricocheted through the fashion world.
“Everlane was built on this brand around sustainability and fewer, better things — and Shein often feels the opposite,” says Katie Thomas, who leads the Kearney Consumer Institute, a think tank inside a consulting firm that works with major retailers and brands.
“The biggest challenge with any value-based product is the price has to be right for the right consumer,” Thomas says. “And Everlane, I think, just was exposed to a category that got crowded.”

Now, brands like Aritzia, Reformation and even Gap are pitching “affordable luxury,” — as is another of Everlane’s rivals, Quince, which is wooing shoppers with much lower prices.
One big question now, Thomas says, is whether a tie-up with a paragon of fast-fashion alienates Everlane’s current clientele — or sways Shein shoppers to trade up.
Shein for years has tried to shed its fast-fashion reputation with sustainability commitments. Another question now: Will it benefit from Everlane’s internal processes? Or will Everlane become a faster-moving trend chaser?
So far, the answers to those questions are murky.
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