DENVER — Miss Colorado Arianna Lemus announced on Friday that she was stepping down from the role in solidarity with the winners of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.
The reigning winners of Miss USA, Noelia Voigt, and Miss Teen USA, UmaSofia Srivastava, resigned from their titles within days of each other last week in a shock to the Miss Universe Organization.
The resignations left the longstanding pageant group without its top two titleholders for the first time in 72 years, shining a spotlight on its practices. The resignations have drawn calls for more transparency into Miss USA and its parent organization, both of which have faced controversy and scrutiny in the past.
Lemus said in a statement on Friday that she resigned in support of Voigt and Srivastava.
"I stand in solidarity with Noelia and UmaSofia, former Miss USA and Miss Teen USA 2023, as I step down from my role as Miss Colorado USA," she said in the statement. "Noelia and UmaSofia's voices have been stifled by the constraints of a contract that undermines their rights and dignity. These remarkable women serve as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for reform within the Miss USA organization."
"Silencing women is not the definitely of pageantry," says the statement posted to the social media platform Instagram.
Voigt, crowned in September 2023, was the first Venezuelan American to win her title.
The title was a “childhood dream" and stepping down was a “very tough decision,” the former Miss Utah and University of Alabama student said in an Instagram post on Monday.
“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,” the 24-year-old wrote.
Alongside the statement, Voigt added a caption that read, “I realize this may come as a large shock to many. Never compromise your physical and mental well-being.” She then thanked fans for their “unwavering support.”
In its own statement, the Miss USA Organization thanked Voigt for her service and wished her “the best in this next chapter.”
Srivastava, who was also crowned last September, announced her resignation in her own post on Instagram on Wednesday.
“I find that my personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization,” the former Miss New Jersey Teen USA wrote.
A Miss Teen USA spokesperson could not be reached for comment on Srivastava's announcement. The Miss Universe Organization, which runs the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants, could not be reached for comment.
RELATED: ‘Toxic workplace’: Questions swirl around organization after Miss USA, Miss Teen USA resign
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS