This past Saturday, on “Good Morning America,” the moms of the current Miss USA and Miss Teen USA revealed disturbing details about their daughters’ interactions with the pageant organization’s leadership. Both beauty pageant winners resigned from their prominent positions just days before this discovery came to light. In a social media post, current Miss USA Noelia Voigt announced her retirement, saying that she was worried about her mental health. Miss Teen USA, Umasofia Srivastava, quickly followed suit, saying that the Miss USA organization’s principles no longer reflected her own.

 Barbara Srivastava, Umasofia’s mother, called the situation a “nightmare” during an appearance on Good Morning America. She said it was completely opposite to her daughter’s dreams. She also came clean about her daughter being bullied and having her social media accounts monitored by the pageant organizers.

 Concerning the torture, abuse, and intimidation that Noelia Voigt and Barbara Srivastava’s daughter had experienced within the organization, the disturbing narratives persisted. The first letters of each sentence in Voigt’s resignation post formed the phrase “I am silenced,” which her mother, Jackeline Voigt, hinted at in a cryptic message. Even though she didn’t want to say anything about intent,

her daughter’s non-disclosure agreement (NDA) would keep her silenced forever.

“Good Morning America” got a copy of Noelia Voigt’s resignation letter, which shed light on the problematic relationships within the company even more. She went into detail about times when she felt unsafe in public due to a lack of support, which manifested as sexual harassment and unwelcome advances. The president of the Miss USA organization, Layla Rose, allegedly ignored Voigt’s worries and gave the impression that she couldn’t do anything about it.

 The Miss USA organization has not officially responded to these revelations. Nevertheless, in an interview with “Good Morning America,” they reaffirmed their will to create a welcoming atmosphere for all competitors.

 Both Jackeline Voigt and Barbara Srivastava, distraught that other girls could have to go through what their daughters did, have voiced their hope that pageants should be rethought in light of these tragic tragedies.

 These stories highlight the need to make to ensure pageant contestants are safe and healthy by revealing the industry’s darker side. How the pageant industry responds to calls for responsibility and help while protecting its competitors’ honor is an open question.