Thom Brodeur has been installed as chief executive, chairman and president of the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA brands, the Miss Universe Organization announced Tuesday, marking a leadership change amid lingering controversy from last year’s titleholder departures.
Brodeur, a 55-year-old pageant coach and talent consultant who runs Brodeur Beauty, replaces Leylah Rose, who had held the license to both brands since 2023. In a statement released by the Miss Universe Organization, Brodeur said he plans to "modernize, revitalize and reignite" the two pageants with a focus on technology, media and fan engagement.
The change follows a highly publicized crisis that began in May 2024 when Miss USA Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava resigned days apart. Voigt cited mental health struggles and alleged she had been sexually harassed at an event tied to the organization; her resignation was the first voluntary relinquishment of the Miss USA crown since the pageant began in 1952. Srivastava said her personal values "no longer fully align with the direction of the organization."
Sources who spoke with the New York Post and other outlets described an allegedly toxic work environment and accused Rose of bullying and poor communication with state directors. Those sources also said state directors were dropping out and that the organization’s parent body had intervened. The Miss Universe Organization said the transaction that placed Brodeur in charge was made possible through a Brodeur-led investment group.
Brodeur posted on Instagram in early September that he had "officially acquired Miss USA and Miss Teen USA" under a 10-year exclusive license and pledged to make good on "promises forgotten" while emphasizing values such as kindness and transparency. On Tuesday he said the effort will be aimed at "moderniz[ing] and revitaliz[ing] these titles for the next generation of powerhouse women and their worldwide fan base."
Allegations tied to the organization extended to questions about compensation for titleholders. Sources told The Post that reigning Miss USA Alma Cooper, the first active-duty U.S. Army officer to be crowned, had not received the expected pay and benefits associated with the title. Cooper, a former Miss Michigan, responded in a Facebook comment that "The Army approved me being paid by Miss USA… I just never was." A source familiar with Cooper also confirmed to The Post she had not been paid.
Rose, who is 45, denied allegations of a toxic workplace, bullying and sexual harassment last year, telling the Los Angeles Times that those claims were "false" and that the organization would have taken steps "to protect our titleholder and provide access to appropriate resources" if any such behavior had occurred. After Brodeur’s Instagram announcement in early September, Rose posted on the pageants’ official Instagram that the organization does not "engage with every rumor or piece of hearsay" and that it focuses on verified information and constructive dialogue.
Industry insiders and state-level pageant officials have said the organization had been struggling for months with vacancies among state directors and public criticism over its handling of titleholder concerns. One person close to the situation told the New York Post that the organization had "desperately needed a change" and that many inside and outside the pageant community were relieved by the leadership shift, though officials cautioned that rebuilding trust and operations would be a difficult task.
The Miss Universe Organization did not provide a detailed public timeline for the transfer of the license or for transitional responsibilities between Rose and Brodeur. The Post reported that it reached out to Rose, Brodeur and Cooper for comment.
Brodeur’s immediate priorities, according to his public statements, include improving transparency with state directors and leveraging media and technology to broaden fan engagement. How quickly those efforts will address lingering legal, financial or contractual questions surrounding prior events and the unpaid compensation claims is not yet clear.
The leadership change brings the pageants under a leader with longstanding ties to the competition circuit. Supporters of the titles said they hope the new management will stabilize operations and restore confidence among contestants, state directors and sponsors. Critics and former titleholders have said they will be watching for substantive reforms and clearer protections for contestants’ well-being as the organization moves forward.
The Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants have long been fixtures in American pageantry, and the new leadership arrives as the industry faces renewed scrutiny over contestant welfare and organizational transparency. Brodeur’s acquisition and public commitments set the stage for the next chapter, but the organization will face close attention as it seeks to address past controversies and reestablish stability for future competitions.