It’s not typical for to wake up thinking we will blaze a trial with our life path. But for some Latinas, that ends up being the case. Noelia Voigt recently experienced this after being crowned Miss USA 2023.

Her historical win is pivotal, since for the first time, a woman of Venezuelan-American descent is representing the United States at the Miss Universe pageant. 

While Voigt isn’t the first Latina to nab the Miss USA crown, the last time a Latina held the title was in 2005 with Susie Castillo’s win. Before Castillo, there were only two others. Mexican-born Laura Elena Herring Martínez took the title in 1985, becoming the first Latina to win Miss USA. Followed by Lynnette Cole, of Puerto Rican descent, in 2000.

Voigt was born to an American father and a Venezuelan mother in Sarasota, Florida, per Married Biography. But the model and beauty pageant contestant later relocated to Park City, Utah. Here’s everything to know about this queen.

Voigt is proud to represent her Venezuelan culture and is close to her family

Since her win as Miss Utah USA, Voigt expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent her community on such a large stage. 

She shared in an Instagram post in early July, “I am honored to be the first Venezuelan-American woman to hold the title of Miss Utah USA, and I am truly looking forward to breaking barriers and bridging the gap between communities by being able to speak Spanish and connect with the large Hispanic population in Utah.”

The interior decorator and entrepreneur is also bilingual. She demonstrates this in her “Cooking with Carolina” episodes alongside her abuela. In it, she speaks Spanish with her “abuelita” and makes things like arroz con pollo.

One person she keeps close to her heart is her heavenly sister Neomy. In an Instagram reel shared on September 2, Voigt discusses the circumstances of her sister’s passing. She wears “a ring with a baby angel” that her mother gifted her when she first started competing in pageants to honor her.

Voigt is a published children’s author

In addition to her many title wins, the first-generation Venezuelan-American has also published a children’s book. In 2020, Voigt released the children’s book “Maddie the Brave,” tackling bullying. 

WVRC reports that the book takes inspiration from Madison Whittsett, 9, who took her life after being bullied at school. With permission from her parents, Voigt made Whittsett the focal point of the story. 

The publication cites Voigt explaining how her goal with “Maddie the Brave” is to show how “young kids can handle those bullying situations at school.”

“You see her dreaming of being the Queen of Brave because Brave is the acronym that the Miss Collegiate Miss America system uses,” she shared on Instagram. “It stands for building respect and values for everyone.”

Adding, “When people hear the inspiration about making Maddie the main character, they think their kids are going to read about it and they are not. It shows a really good example about how young kids can handle those bullying situations at school.”

The Miss USA 2023 winner is a strong advocate for immigrant rights and teen dating violence

According to her contestant biography, she’s a huge advocate for immigration rights. 

Her bio reads, “​​Her bilingual background as a Venezuelan-American woman enriches her cultural perspective. As the daughter of a Venezuelan immigrant, immigration rights are incredibly important to her.”

Voigt is also a One Love Workshop Facilitator, per a Miss USA Instagram post. According to its website, the One Love Foundation is an organization that wants to help young people recognize “the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships.” As a facilitator, Voigt has helped educate over “1,000 students” about teen dating violence.

In a post she shared on social media, she notes that she will “spread” her message on the importance of teen dating violence “to anyone who will listen.”

“I spread my message to anyone who will listen. I had the best time today hosting a One Love Workshop with some of the Olympus High School cheer team educating them on the signs of a healthy and unhealthy relationship,” her caption begins. 

She continued, “They are ready to take on young adulthood and protect themselves and their loved ones! I also had the chance to host a reading of my anti-bullying children’s book Maddie the BRAVE and equip the kids with the strength they need to love themselves and combat negativity! They left as Queens and Superheroes of kindness [.]”

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