Miss Hawaii crowned Miss USA after Noelia Voigt’s shocking resignation ‘following bullying allegations’
Beauty fashion
The Miss USA organization has named a new titleholder: Miss Hawaii, Savannah Gankiewicz.
In a statement posted to Instagram on Thursday, Laylah Rose, CEO and president of the pageant organization, said Gankiewicz would take home the crown after the shocking resignation of original titleholder Noelia Voigt earlier this week.
Gankiewicz, 28, was initially named runner-up in the Miss USA pageant last October.
In the Instagram post, Rose described Gankiewicz as “a true representation of vision, intelligence and compassion.”
“Her dedication to empowering women through self-love and self-confidence is inspiring, and we look forward to her landmark reign as Miss USA,” Rose wrote.
The announcement comes just days after Voigt gave up her Miss USA crown after just 7 months to prioritize her mental health.
The 24-year-old from Utah shared her shocking decision on Instagram on Monday, posting a lengthy statement in which she called her time with the Miss USA organization “incredibly meaningful.”
His resignation marks the first time in the pageant’s 72-year history that a title holder has voluntarily relinquished the crown.
“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 by the organization on Instagram.
“I accept the crown knowing that I have been supported by my supporters, family, friends and the people of Hawaii throughout this journey. I accept this title on their behalf.
In a separate statement posted to her own Instagram account, Gankiewicz, a model, entrepreneur and director of the nonprofit What Makes You Feel Beautiful program, said her decision to accept the title was not “taken lightly “.
“Noelia, it was the honor of my life to share the stage with you in your pinnacle moment and I wish you all the best for your next chapter,” she said in the statement, writing that she was committed to using her “little time”. as Miss USA to help rebuild Lahaina on her home island of Maui.
She added: “Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement and kindness as I embark on this new journey. Your uplifting comments and messages have assured me that accepting the title is the right thing to do and I am so excited to be your new Miss USA.
In the wake of the title shakeup — and the recent resignation of Miss Teen USA, 17-year-old UmaSofia Srivastava — sources familiar with the matter said the pageant’s glitz and glamor hid something more sinister.
Sources say “harassment” from management could have been the reason the two beauty queens gave up their crowns.
“This toxic atmosphere is a major concern,” an anonymous insider told the Post.
“There is an urgent need for intervention at the leadership level. »
Concerned fans on Instagram reported that the first letter of each sentence in Voigt’s resignation spelled out a message: “I AM SILENCE.” Sources say it was on purpose.
The Miss USA organization has been embroiled in controversy over the years, including facing backlash in 2022 after contestants alleged the competition was rigged. In 2023, Max Sebrechts, the husband of ousted Miss USA president Crystle Stewart, was accused of sending “unwanted” sexual messages to pageant contestants.
Former Miss New York Thatiana Diaz, 31, told the Post that the organization’s toll was “a long time coming.”
“You have all these different personalities and so many ways you’re pushed and pulled and told what to do,” Diaz said. “It really affects your mental health.”
She added: “There are human beings under these crowns. »
In her online statement, Gankiewicz, who will be crowned May 15 in her home state of Hawaii, called on her fellow pageants to “stay united for the future of the organization” and future classes.
“I pledge my full support to the new delegates who have dedicated themselves to their state pageants, and I am committed to ensuring a smooth and memorable transition among the Miss USA titleholders,” she said.
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News Source : nypost.com
