Miss USA Savannah Gankiewicz has revealed that she has been receiving death threats and hateful messages since taking the crown, following Noelia Voigt’s surprising resignation and allegations against the pageant’s CEO.
Gankiewicz, 28, expressed her heartbreak over the backlash in an emotional speech. “Since I’ve gotten this title, I’ve dealt with a lot of bullying and harassment, and it really does, it breaks my heart,” she said in a video shared on X last week, tears in her eyes.
“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,” Gankiewicz continued, wiping away tears. “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 and you keep going and you keep using your voice.”
Gankiewicz was crowned Miss USA 2023 in a special ceremony in Waikiki earlier this month, stepping in for former Miss USA Noelia Voigt, who resigned on May 6. Voigt, 24, initially cited a need to focus on her mental health in her Instagram statement. However, NBC News later obtained Voigt’s resignation letter, which accused the pageant’s CEO of creating a toxic work environment and failing to address a sexual harassment complaint she had raised.
Despite the controversy and challenges, Gankiewicz remains committed to using her platform for positive impact. Her focus on supporting Lahaina and Maui residents and setting an example for young women stands at the forefront of her mission as Miss USA.