Current:Home > StocksMiss Hawaii Savannah Gankiewicz takes Miss USA crown after Noelia Voigt resignation -×
Miss Hawaii Savannah Gankiewicz takes Miss USA crown after Noelia Voigt resignation
View
Date:2025-04-14 21:44:14
Less than two weeks after former Miss USA Noelia Voigt resigned, Miss Hawaii Savannah Gankiewicz has officially taken the title.
The model and activist was crowned Wednesday in a ceremony broadcast live from Waikiki, Hawaii. Gankiewicz, 28, was crowned by Hawaii Gov. Dr. Josh Green, according to CNN and Entertainment Tonight.
"While this decision was not made lightly, I firmly believe that this opportunity was meant for me and I am ready to make a positive impact with this organization that I hold dear to my heart," Gankiewicz said, according to the outlets.
The contentious Miss USA title was originally held by Voigt until May 6, when the former Miss Utah relinquished her Miss USA crown to preserve her mental health.
Miss USA and Miss Teen USA'smoms say they were 'abused, bullied, and cornered'
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Voigt said in a lengthy Instagram post that her resignation might "come as a large shock to many," but shared a word of advice with readers: "Never compromise your physical and mental well-being. Our health is our wealth."
On May 9, Miss USA announced that Miss Hawaii had stepped in to complete the final three months of Voigt's vacated seat.
"I fully support and respect Noelia's decision to step down, and I stand in solidarity with mental health awareness," Gankiewicz said in a statement shared on social media at the time. She added, "To my fellow Miss USA sisters, I believe it's crucial for us to stand united for the future of the organization and the incoming class of 2024 and beyond.
"I pledge my wholehearted support to the new delegates who have dedicated themselves to their state pageants, and I am committed to ensuring a seamless and memorable transition between Miss USA titleholders."
Former Miss USA staffersays organization caused pageant winners' mental health to decline
Comments were limited on the joint post, which was a collaborative effort by the Miss USA, Miss Hawaii USA and Gankiewicz's Instagram accounts.
Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava resigned from her title within days of Voigt, sharing in an Instagram statement that her "personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization."
Miss USA resignations:CW 'evaluating' relationship with pageants ahead of live ceremonies
That title's runner-up, Miss NY Teen USA Stephanie Skinner, declined her invitation to replace Srivastava.
Srivastava, in a post on her Instagram story shortly after Miss USA's resignation, quoted Michelle Obama's famous motto, "When they go low, we go high."
She also shared a message: "Please do not send hate to anyone, while we can't control what is said about us, we can control what we say about others. Even if that means overlooking attacks on one's character."
2024's Miss USA and Miss Teen USA will be crowned in August.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson
veryGood! (17)
Related
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Feds: U.S. student was extremist who practiced bomb-making skills in dorm
- Ex-election workers want Rudy Giuliani’s apartment, Yankees rings in push to collect $148M judgment
- Horoscopes Today, August 30, 2024
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- A measure to repeal a private school tuition funding law in Nebraska will make the November ballot
- One Tree Hill Sequel Series in the Works 12 Years After Finale
- Former California employee to get $350K to settle sexual harassment claims against state treasurer
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Sister Wives' Robyn and Kody Brown List $1.65 Million Home for Sale
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Carlos Alcaraz’s surprising US Open loss to Botic van de Zandschulp raises questions
- Are 'provider women' the opposite of 'trad wives'? They're getting attention on TikTok.
- Man pleads guilty to killing Baltimore tech entrepreneur in attack that shocked the city
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Everything to Know About Dancing With the Stars Pro Artem Chigvintsev’s Domestic Violence Arrest
- Man arrested in Colorado dog breeder’s killing, but the puppies are still missing
- Women’s college in Virginia bars transgender students based on founder’s will from 1900
Recommendation
Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
Measures to legalize medical marijuana in Nebraska can appear on November ballot, official says
Navajo Nation adopts changes to tribal law regulating the transportation of uranium across its land
Mike Lynch sunken superyacht could cost insurers massively, experts say
Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
2024 Paris Paralympics: Paychecks for Medal Winners Revealed
Getting paid early may soon be classified as a loan: Why you should care
Milo Ventimiglia reunites with Mandy Moore for 'This Is Us' rewatch: See the photo