Mississippi’s Addie Carver becomes Miss Teen USA amid controversy

Addie Carver from Mississippi has been crowned Miss Teen USA 2024, taking over a title that had been vacant since the resignation of the previous winner in May. 

The 17-year-old, a dance teacher, cheerleader, and choreographer, received her tiara at a glamorous event in Los Angeles, marking a hopeful end to a turbulent period for the pageant and its parent event, Miss USA.

Before being crowned, Carver shared her personal journey with the judges, discussing her struggles with mental health. She stated, "As the next Miss Teen USA I want to make it my mission to know that every little girl who is just like me once is never alone." 

Georgia's Ava Colindres and Arizona's Rachael Mclaen were named the first and second runners-up, respectively.

The event avoided direct mention of the resignations earlier this year when both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA 2023 stepped down. Noelia Voigt of Utah and UmaSofia Srivastava of New Jersey were the first winners in the pageant's history to renounce their crowns. 

Voigt cited mental health issues initially but later criticized the organizers, while Srivastava resigned due to a conflict in "personal values" with the Miss USA organization.

A notable change in the pageant was that Carver was crowned by Hawaii’s Savannah Gankiewicz, who took over the Miss USA title after Voigt's resignation, instead of the previous year's Miss Teen USA winner.

The Miss USA organization faced significant challenges following Voigt's resignation in May. Although Voigt did not provide details initially, her Instagram post announcing her resignation hinted at being "silenced," leading to speculation about a non-disclosure agreement. 

A resignation letter obtained by CNN later revealed her complaints, including delays in receiving prizes, a "toxic work environment," and allegations of sexual harassment.

Srivastava, Miss Teen USA 2023, also resigned days later, stating her values no longer aligned with the organization. Her mother, Barbara Srivastava, claimed on Good Morning America that both queens were "ill-treated, abused, bullied and cornered."

The Miss Universe Organization and Miss USA did not comment on the resignations, but Miss USA president Laylah Rose refuted Voigt's claims in a statement reported by the Los Angeles Times. Unlike in Miss USA, Miss Teen USA’s first runner-up declined the title, leaving it vacant until Carver’s coronation.

The Miss Teen USA contest, open to ages 14 to 19, emphasizes "beauty, brains, and confidence." This year's event, hosted by Rachel Lindsay and Justin Sylvester, saw participants in evening gown and activewear rounds. 

Carver highlighted the importance of mental health, sharing how she overcame her struggles after losing her father to lung cancer. She founded Dance to Empower, an organization promoting the joy of dance as a means of healing.