Utah’s Noelia Voigt is crowned Miss USA in glitzy ceremony that featured first married state titleholder following Miss Universe rule change

Noelia Voigt of Utah was crowned Miss USA in a glitzy ceremony where the contestants showed off their fashion talents in glittering mini dresses and stunning gowns.

The 72nd pageant also featured the first married state titleholder, following a Miss Universe rule that allowed married women and mothers to compete for the first time in its seven-decade history.

Noelia Voigt, 23, oozed glamor last night in a silver dress with a thigh-high slit, before changing into a striking, jewel-covered gold gown before being crowned Miss USA.

Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii placed first in second place at the Grand Sierra Resort in Nevada, according CNN.

Noelia impressed the jury with her answer about what she would mean to the Miss Universe organization as a ‘brand ambassador’.

According to Processionshe responded, “I believe that the ability to connect with people is an incredibly important asset that a Miss USA should have.

“The United States of America is an incredibly diverse country, probably one of the most diverse in the world. So it is important to be able to get in touch with everyone.

“As a bilingual Venezuelan-American woman, I intend to connect with that community of people because the United States of America is a diverse country and a Miss USA should be able to represent every community, regardless of their background, their race, their ethnicity , whatever, and I would like to be that Miss USA.”

For the past 70 years, the pageant was only available to women who were never married or had children, but now both mothers and married women can enter the contest.

“We all believe that women should have control over their lives and that people’s personal decisions should not hinder their success,” said an internal memo obtained by The national one said.

According to the previously stated rule, only unmarried women and women without children between the ages of 18 and 28 are eligible to participate. Despite the new rule, the age requirements remain the same.

Miss Universe National Director Josh Yugen told The National: “The Miss Universe Organization has always been the largest and most innovative platform of its kind and now it will be more inclusive and welcoming to mothers and married women.

“For me, this is what I’ve been fighting for: breaking stereotypes and breaking the stigma that the old society imposed on us decades ago.”

Andrea Meza, 27, who represented Mexico and was crowned Miss Universe in 2020, noted that the new rule was long overdue.

“I think it’s really great that this is happening,” she said in an interview with Insider. ‘Just as society is changing and women now hold leadership positions where previously only men could.

It’s about time the pageants changed and opened up to women with families.

”

Andrea added: “There are many women who got married young or had children in their early 20s who always wanted to compete in Miss Universe but couldn’t because of the rules.

“Thanks to these changes, those women can now start or advance careers in entertainment.”