Miss Utah Noelia Voigt was crowned Miss USA 2023 in a competition held at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. She emerged victorious, surpassing the runner-up, Miss Hawaii Savannah Gankiewicz, and second runner-up, Miss Wisconsin Alexis Loomans. Morgan Romano, who assumed the Miss USA 2022 title, presented Voigt with her crown.
Before the pageant, Voigt expressed her journey’s culmination on Instagram, stating, “The past seven years of my pageant journey have all led me to this moment.” She emphasized her excitement for the competition, especially the interview, and her readiness to showcase her true self to the judges.
Voigt, who also became the first Venezuelan-American Miss Utah, reflected on her historic achievement, expressing her honor and eagerness to bridge gaps and connect with Utah’s Hispanic population by speaking Spanish.
Laylah Rose, a fashion designer and CEO of the VIP Pageantry television network, served as the new Miss USA president. She introduced changes to the pageant, with the interview round now accounting for 50 percent of the final vote, while the swimsuit and evening-gown rounds each make up 25 percent. Rose aimed to highlight the individuality of delegates and emphasize their platforms and philanthropic efforts.
Additionally, the final question will not be political, allowing contestants to have their moment. Rose introduced the use of Tally Genie, a tabulation and auditing software solution for pageants.
In 2022, the pageant faced allegations of favoring Miss Texas R’Bonney Gabriel. However, Gabriel denied the claims, and the organization dismissed them as distracting from the significant achievements of the delegates. Gabriel, crowned Miss Universe 2022, embraced the opportunity to set an example by overcoming negativity and pursuing her dreams. She hoped her journey would inspire others to believe in themselves and achieve the seemingly impossible.
Miss USA Elle Smith, Miss Teen USA, and Miss America are all Black women, marking a historic milestone in pageantry.