Noelia Voigt was crowned Miss USA in September 2023, but she stepped down from her position on May 6, citing mental health reasons. This led to Miss Hawaii Savannah Gankiewicz taking over as Miss USA for the remainder of Voigt's tenure. Gankiewicz, 28, was crowned Miss Hawaii in January 2023 and was the first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant. She won best interview and best costume in the competition, wearing a sparkly jumpsuit to honor a burned banyan tree from Maui wildfires.
Gankiewicz expressed her excitement for her new role and emphasized the importance of mental health in her Instagram post. Following Voigt's resignation, Miss USA highlighted the well-being of titleholders as a top priority. This came after a series of resignations within the organization, including Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava and social-media director Claudia Michelle.
Miss USA announced Gankiewicz as the new queen, praising her vision, intelligence, and compassion. Gankiewicz, a professional model and entrepreneur, is dedicated to empowering women through her nonprofit work. She has Filipino, Vietnamese, and Polish heritage and is passionate about her cultural background.
Gankiewicz plans to use her title to help rebuild Lahania, which was devastated in the Maui wildfires. She expressed gratitude for the support she has received and looks forward to her impactful reign as Miss USA until the 2024 queen is crowned in August.
