- On Wednesday, new Miss USA Savannah Gankiewicz was officially crowned in Hawaii.
- Gankiewicz was the runner-up to Miss USA 2023 Noelia Vogt, who resigned on May 6.
- Miss Teen USA Umasofia Srivastava also resigned, but the runner-up declined the title.
Savannah Gankiewicz was officially crowned Miss USA on Wednesday, amid a series of turbulent pageants.
Gankiewicz competed in the Miss USA pageant in September 2023 as Miss Hawaii.
Noelia Vogt was crowned queen during the pageant and served as Miss USA until her resignation on May 6th. Miss Teen USA Umasofia Srivastava resigned two days later. In the days since her resignation, Vogt and Srivastava’s mothers have spoken out against the way their daughters were treated when they became title holders.
On May 9, the Miss USA organization announced that Gankiewicz would become Miss USA following Vogt’s resignation. She was crowned her queen in a ceremony in Hawaii on Wednesday.
Miss USA did not respond to a request for comment on Gankiewicz’s crown.
The new Miss USA acknowledged how she was crowned in a speech
According to CNN, Hawaii Governor Josh Green coronated Gankiewicz in Honolulu.
At the event, Gankiewicz gave a speech about how she came to win the Miss USA title.
As reported by CNN, Gankiewicz said, “While this decision was not made lightly, I strongly believe that this opportunity was meaningful to me and the organization that I hold dear to my heart.” We are ready to make a positive impact.”
“I am committed to taking action and making a difference,” she said. “With a background as a certified mental health first aider and training in bullying suicide prevention, I understand the importance of prioritizing your own health and advocating for those in need. I believe that real change starts from within, and I am determined to lead by example and empower the Class of 2024 and beyond.”
Vogt addressed her mental health when she announced on Instagram that she was resigning from Miss USA, writing in the caption of her post, “Never sacrifice your physical or mental health. Our health is mine. It is our property.”
When Gankiewicz announced on Instagram that she would become queen, she thanked her followers who “assured me that accepting the title was the right thing to do,” adding that she supported and admired Vogt. .
After the coronation ceremony, Gankiewicz told Hawaii News Now in an interview that he considered earning the title “a job and a responsibility.”
“While I feel sorry for the former titleholders, I saw this as a job and a responsibility to help make a positive impact within this organization that I truly believe in,” she said. said.
She also told the outlet that she had nothing but good experiences at both Miss Hawaii USA and Miss USA.
“It was always great,” she said. “They’ve always done a lot for me.”
In addition to being Miss USA, Gankiewicz is also a model, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. When she competed in Miss USA, she won Best Costume and Best Interview in the state costume contest.
Miss Teen USA’s first runner-up did not accept the crown
Two days after Vogt vacated her title, Miss Teen USA Umasofia Srivastava also resigned.
In an Instagram announcement, she said her values were “completely no longer aligned with the direction of the organization.”
Her crown went to Stephanie Skinner, the 2023 Miss Teen USA Pageant and Miss Teen New Jersey runner-up.
Skinner declined the title this summer, telling BI that she had already agreed to participate in a research program through the university and that she could not accept it due to her own ethics.
“What I will never compromise on is my character and integrity,” she said. “So, given the recent circumstances and the fact that I have committed to participate in the university’s global research program this summer, I felt it was best and reflected my morals, so I accepted the role. I had no choice but to decline.”
Vogt and Srivastava’s resignations follow that of Miss USA social media director Claudia Michel, who wrote on Instagram on May 3, “Noelia and Uma’s mental health and well-being has taken a huge hit.” “We cannot remain silent about this,” he said.
Miss Colorado Arianna Lemus also renounced her crown Friday in solidarity with Vogt.
The mothers told BI’s Aneta Constantinides that Vogt and Srivastava have signed NDAs and cannot discuss their experiences as Miss USA or Miss Teen USA.
But Jackelyn Vogt and Barbara Srivastava said their daughters experienced “emotional abuse, gaslighting, and a hostile environment” during the reign overseen by Miss USA CEO and President Leila Rose. He said he did.
The Miss USA organization did not respond to BI’s previous request for comment about mothers’ voices. However, in a statement to ABC News, they said: “We are healthy and communicative. A supportive environment for all contestantsstate title holders, national title holders, and staff.
