Fil-Am beauty queen Savannah Gankiewicz named new Miss USA 2023 after titleholder resigns
Filipino-American beauty queen and former Mutya ng Pilipinas Savannah Gankiewicz has been crowned the new Miss USA 2023.
On May 10, the Miss USA organization announced that Savannah, who represented Hawaii, would be the next titleholder. This came after Noelia Voigt relinquished her title.
The pageant organizer added that the Fil-Am beauty queen will be crowned in Hawaii on May 15.
"We are proud to crown Savannah Miss USA 2023. A true representation of vision, intelligence, and compassion," Miss USA Organization CEO and president Laylah Rose said in the statement. “Her dedication to empowering women through self-love and confidence is inspiring, and we look forward to her impactful reign as Miss USA."
Savannah was first runner-up to Noelia in the Miss USA Pageant held in September 2023.
On her Instagram, Savannah said that she fully supported Noelia’s decision to step down as Miss USA and stood in solidarity with mental health awareness.
“I accept the crown knowing that I have been uplifted by my supporters, family, friends, and the people of Hawaii throughout this journey. I accept this title on their behalf,” she continued.
"Please know that my decision to accept the Miss USA crown was not one that was made lightly. I stand with Noelia, it was the honor of a lifetime to share the stage with you during your crowning moment and I wish you all the best in your next chapter.”
The beauty queen added that with the little time she has as Miss USA, she aims to bring attention and focus to rebuilding Lahaina on the islands of Maui. She also looks forward to helping and supporting the 2024 delegates' transition into a new era of Miss USA.
Get to know Savannah
In 2017, Savannah represented the Filipino community of Hawaii in the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant.
She is a program director for a non-profit organization called “What Makes You Beautiful,” an organization aiming to empower self-love to girls and women in every stage, phase, and age of their lives.
Savannah also spends her time assisting a youth program called “F.L.Y. First Love Yourself” which aims to promote self-love, build confidence, and empower compassion in young women.
Savannah will pass the Miss USA crown to her successor in August, who will represent the USA in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant.
Noelia’s resignation
Noelia announced that she was stepping down as Miss USA in an Instagram post on May 7.
“I strongly value the importance of making a decision that feel best for you and your mental health. As individuals, we grow through experiencing different things in life that lead us to learning more about ourselves,” the Utah queen said.
Some of her Instagram followers noted that the first letters of each sentence in her public statement spelled out "I am silenced."
NBC News reported that the 24-year-old beauty queen gave up her crown because of an alleged "toxic work environment."
“There is a toxic work environment within the Miss USA organization that, at best, is poor management and, at worst, is bullying and harassment,” the letter from Noelia obtained by the outlet read. “This started soon after winning the title of Miss USA 2023.”
In her letter, Noelia also included details of an alleged sexual harassment incident she experienced in Florida at a Christmas event wherein she was reportedly left alone in a car with a man who "made several inappropriate statements" to her.
When the beauty queen told Laylah about this, she told her, "We cannot prevent people saying things to you at public appearances, it is, unfortunately, part of the role of you're in as a public figure."
Apart from Noelia, Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava also gave up her crown, saying her "personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization."