Current:Home > FinanceMiss Hawaii Savannah Gankiewicz takes Miss USA crown after Noelia Voigt resignation -Momentum Wealth Path
Miss Hawaii Savannah Gankiewicz takes Miss USA crown after Noelia Voigt resignation
View
Date:2025-04-18 01:45:07
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! (31952)
Related
- Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
- Connecticut still No. 1, Duke takes tumble in the USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll
- $2.59 for burritos? Taco Bell receipt from 2012 has customers longing for bygone era
- The Razzie nominations are out. Here's who's up for worst actor and actress.
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Burton Wilde : Three Pieces of Advice and Eight Considerations for Stock Investments.
- Appeals court reverses judge’s ruling, orders appointment of independent examiner in FTX bankruptcy
- Hungary’s Orbán says he invited Swedish leader to discuss NATO membership
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Men are going to brutal boot camps to reclaim their masculinity. How did we get here?
Ranking
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Trump seeks control of the GOP primary in New Hampshire against Nikki Haley, his last major rival
- Beverly Hills, 90210 Actor David Gail's Cause of Death Revealed
- Olivia Jade Giannulli Supports Jacob Elordi After Saturday Night Live Hosting Debut
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Criminals are extorting money from taxi drivers in Mexico’s Cancun, as they have done in Acapulco
- Dexter Scott King, younger son of Martin Luther King Jr., dies at 62
- Oscar nominations are Tuesday morning. Expect a big day for ‘Oppenheimer,’ ‘Barbie’
Recommendation
Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
The tensions behind the sale of U.S. Steel
Rhode Island transportation officials say key bridge may need to be completely demolished
Trial starts in Amsterdam for 9 suspects in the 2021 slaying of a Dutch investigative journalist
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
Dealing with dry lips? There are many possible reasons.
2024 Sundance Film Festival: Opening highlights
Supreme Court agrees to hear case of Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip