SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — This weekend, 90 women from across the globe will take the stage to compete for the title of Miss Universe — and one of them is from right here in the Tampa Bay area.
Noelia Voigt, a 24-year-old Nokomis native who attended Pine View School, was crowned Miss USA on Sept. 29 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. Representing her current home state of Utah, Noelia beat out runner-up Miss Hawaii and second runner-up Miss Wisconsin.
Her parents, who still live in Sarasota County, were in the audience for the emotional moment Noelia had been working toward since she began her pageant career seven years ago.
Noelia Voigt competes for Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada
"Today it seems surreal that Noelia is Miss USA," her mom, Jacky Voigt Briceño, wrote in a post admiring her daughter's determination. "At age 8, Noelia asked to compete in a pageant and we said 'No.' If you know Noelia, you know that she doesn't take no for an answer."
Her previous titles include 4th and then 1st runner-up at Miss Florida Teen USA in 2017 and 2018. She was crowned Miss Alabama Collegiate in 2020 and then won 1st runner-up at Miss Alabama USA two years in a row, in 2022 and 2023.
Outside of her passion for pageantry, Noelia is an interior designer, a dating violence educator, a children's book author and a dog mom to her Australian Shepherd, Mila. Her Venezuelan-American background, however, is what inspires her greatest mission, "to represent every community no matter their background, their race, their ethnicity, anything," Noelia said on the Miss USA stage.
As the first Venezuelan-American Miss USA, Noelia is an advocate for immigration rights and reform.
"Her bilingual background as a Venezuelan-American woman enriches her cultural perspective," her bio reads.
As Noelia prepares to compete in the 72nd Miss Universe Pageant this Saturday, Nov. 18, in El Salvador, she hopes to follow in the footsteps of the Miss USA who came before her. Last year, Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel went on to become Miss Universe.
"I am grateful, honored, and humbled to be embarking on this journey of a lifetime, proudly representing my country. I still have 'pinch me' moments every day," Noelia wrote in a post on her way to El Salvador. "An infinite amount of thank you's to everyone who has been so kind and supportive. I hope to make you all proud. USA, let's do this!"
The pageant will be hosted by former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, and TV hosts Jeannie Mai Jenkins and Maria Menounos. It will also feature a live musical performance by 12-time Grammy winner John Legend.
You can cheer Noelia on starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, on the Roku Channel or Telemundo.
