Savannah Gankiewicz, a 28-year-old model and nonprofit leader from Maui, has been crowned as the new Miss USA. She was awarded the title in a ceremony at Hawaii’s Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, replacing her predecessor, Noelia Voigt, who stepped down earlier this month to focus on her mental health. Gankiewicz expressed her gratitude and readiness to make a positive impact with the organization during her crowning in Honolulu. She had previously been the runner-up in the Miss USA 2023 contest last September and will hold the title through August, serving out the remainder of Voigt’s reign.
Voigt, the pageant’s Venezuelan-American winner, announced her decision to relinquish her post on May 6, citing the importance of prioritizing her mental health. Two months after her victory, she represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2023 competition in El Salvador. Gankiewicz, in her social media post revealing her promotion, expressed her admiration for Voigt’s strength and her gratitude to have shared the stage with her during her crowning moment. She emphasized that her decision to accept the Miss USA crown was not made lightly and pledged to support and continue the work of the organization.
The Miss USA organization faced additional resignations in the wake of Voigt’s departure, with Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava also issuing a resignation notice of her own. Srivastava stated on Instagram that her personal values no longer aligned with the direction of the organization, leading to her decision to step down. The resignations prompted an investigation into the working environment within the organization, with allegations of a toxic atmosphere being raised by the mothers of Voigt and Srivastava in a joint interview on Good Morning America. They claimed that their daughters had been mistreated, bullied, and subjected to unwanted advances during their time with the organization.
In response to the allegations, the Miss USA organization released a statement pledging to foster a healthy, communicative, and supportive environment for all contestants, state titleholders, national titleholders, and staff. The organization emphasized its commitment to addressing any issues and ensuring the well-being of all individuals involved in its programs. The joint interview on Good Morning America shed light on the challenges faced by the pageant winners and prompted a wider conversation about the treatment and support provided to participants in beauty pageants. Moving forward, the Miss USA organization will be under increased scrutiny to uphold its promises of creating a positive and respectful environment for all individuals involved in its pageants.
