More inclusive rule changes that eliminated age limits as well as other factors for potential contestants came on the heels of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA resigning two days apart last month.
A 71-year-old El Paso woman is testing the fun of the Miss Universe group rules by becoming the oldest contestant in the Miss Texas USA pageant. Marissa Teijo is proud to make history.
“I feel like all girls now have a new level of choice, energy and charm,” Teijo said in an email obtained by USA currently. Teijo is among seven El Paso girls and 75 total who competed in Houston for the Miss Texas USA title on Saturday.
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“I am so happy to be a part of this amazing new experience as a contestant in the Miss Texas USA pageant,” she captioned her post. Instagram ahead of the contest.
“By doing this, I hope to encourage girls to try to be their best physically and psychologically and imagine that there is beauty at any age.”
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The winner of the Miss Texas USA pageant moves on to the Miss USA pageant and eventually the winner will compete against women from around the world in the Miss Universe pageant. Aarieanna Ware, last year’s Miss Dallas, ended up taking home the title, for NBC Information.
The CEO of Teijo, Bazaar Fashions, said she was proud to symbolize so much variety. “I symbolize women of all shapes, ages and races,” she said before the pageant. “As I bring together my workforce to compete in Miss Texas, I am thrilled to help these girls who encourage me to be a trailblazer every day.”
Age is also not the only restriction raised by the Miss Universe team. As noted by USA, today, contestants can also get married, divorced and/or pregnant during the competition – with the policy in effect since 2023, according to the Miss Texas USA website.
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While this growth will certainly bring applause to the increasingly controversial world of beauty pageants, the Miss Universe group has come under increased scrutiny after Miss USA and Miss Teen USA resigned from their positions in May.
It was at the beginning of the month that all the defending champions returned their crowns. Miss USA Noelia Voigt, 24, announced on May 6 that she was stepping down without specifying exactly why. She posted it to her Instagram the next message, in part: “In no way compromise your physical and psychological well-being. Our well-being is our wealth.”
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“We respect and support former Miss USA Noelia Voigt’s determination to step down from her duties,” the group said in a statement. “The well-being of our members is a priority and we understand that it must be prioritized at this time.”
After Voigt stepped down, Hawaii’s Savannah Gankiewidz took over the title. Web sleuths quickly noted that the main letter of each phrase in Voigt’s drawn-out statement appeared to spell out a message, for example. NBC Information: “I am silenced.”
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Just two days later, Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, 17, announced her own resignation from the title, citing problems with the group. “After careful consideration, I have decided to resign after discovering that my personal values do not fully align with the group’s path,” she posted on her account. Instagram.
Social media director Claudia Michelle also resigned, claiming to have seen Voigt’s mental health “decline” and “disregard” for Srivastrava and her family in her own life. Instagram to send. The previous Miss Teen USA was the first Mexican-Indian winner of Miss New Jersey Teen USA.
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After Srivastava stepped down, his runner-up, Stephanie Skinner, 19, declined the title. “I worked hard and sacrificed a lot for this goal of becoming Miss Teen USA,” said the teenager People on May 13, “and although this title was a dream of mine, I believe that one thing I will never give up on is my character.” The place remains empty.
Although both former title holders are held under non-disclosure agreements, their mothers appeared on Good Morning America and alleged allegations of abuse, intimidation and poor treatment.
In response to everything that has been released, Miss USA Group CEO Laylah Rose said in a statement to NBC News that her goal is “to encourage women to always create new desires, have the courage to explore it all and keep going.” . to best protect integrity.”
“I stand by these same extreme demands and take these allegations seriously,” she wrote. “Please be assured that the well-being of everyone associated with Miss USA is my priority.”