Savannah Gankiewicz from Hawaii was recently crowned Miss USA 2023 after the former titleholder resigned due to mental health reasons. Ms Gankiewicz will hold the title until August this year, completing the remainder of the pageant’s term.
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old reported receiving death threats and hateful messages since her coronation, according to NBC News. “Since I’ve gotten this title, I’ve dealt with a lot of bullying and harassment, and it really does, it breaks my heart,” Ms. Gankiewicz expressed in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The Miss USA contest has faced multiple controversies and scandals in recent years
Wiping away her tears, she continued, “Sorry. I didn’t want to cry, but I just feel like it’s hard, because I wish people saw where my heart is coming from. And it’s helping Lahaina and helping Maui residents and having a platform, but also showing young women that you can get bullied and you can hurt but you stand back up, you keep going, and you keep using your voice.”
The Hawaiian assumed the title from Noelia Voigt, who stepped down on May 6. Ms Voigt announced her resignation in an Instagram post. “I realise this may come as a large shock to many. Never compromise your physical and mental well-being,” she wrote in the caption. Ms. Voigt was crowned the 72nd Miss USA winner in Nevada in 2023 and was the first Venezuelan-American woman to win Miss USA, as per her statement.
The Miss USA contest has faced multiple controversies and scandals in recent years, with various allegations of preferential treatment for certain contestants. Although the organization eventually found these allegations unsubstantiated, Crystle Stewart, a former Miss USA winner, resigned as president. Her husband, Max Sebrechts, who served as the organization’s vice president, left amidst numerous accusations of sexual harassment from former contestants. Cheslie Kryst, crowned Miss USA in 2019, tragically died by suicide in early 2022. In her memoir, she wrote about “long-standing insecurities” that resurfaced after winning the title, leading to online abuse, as reported by People.