Miss Hawaii USA Savannah Gankiewicz accepted the Miss USA crown after Noelia Voigt announced Monday she would step down, according to an Instagram post. 

What You Need To Know

  • Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA 2023, cited mental health concerns as her reason for stepping down

  • Miss USA wrote on Instagram that they supported Voigt's decision and would crown Savannah Gankiewicz in a ceremony in Hawaii on May 15  

  • Savannah Gankiewicz, who is from Maui, was the 2023 runner up in the Miss USA competition

  • Gankiewicz said she would use her time as Miss USA "to bring attention and focus onto the rebuilding of Lahaina"

Voigt cited mental health concerns as her reason for relinquishing the crown. 

“Deep down I know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me, and my hope is that I continue to inspire others to remain steadfast, prioritize your mental health, advocate for yourself and others by using your voice, and never be afraid of what the future holds, even if it feels uncertain,” Voigt wrote on Instagram. 

Voigt, who represented Utah in the September 2023 competition, was the first Venezuelan-American to win Miss USA. In November 2023, she competed in the Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador, placing in the top 20.  

Miss USA wrote on Instagram that they supported Voigt’s decision. 

On Wednesday, the 2023 winner of Miss Teen USA, UmaSofia Srivastava, also shared on Instagram that she was stepping down. 

“After careful consideration, I’ve decided to resign as I find that my personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization,” Srivastava wrote in an Instagram post.  

Miss USA announced Thursday Gankiewicz would be crowned as Miss USA 2023 in a celebratory coronation in Hawaii on May 15.

“We are proud to crown Savannah Miss USA 2023, a true representation of vision, intelligence, and compassion,” Miss USA Organization President Laylah Rose said. “Her dedication to empowering women through self-love and confidence is inspiring, and we look forward to her impactful reign as Miss USA.”

Gankiewicz was the 2023 runner up in the Miss USA competition and she won the best costume award for an outfit inspired by the Lahaina banyan tree. 

“The banyan tree of Maui survived the worst fires in American history in over 100 years. This costume pays tribute to the roots of Hawaii and an everlasting cycle of life showing the indomitable spirit of the people of Hawaii!” Gankiewicz wrote in an Instagram post. 

After accepting the crown, Gankiewicz said she supported Voigt's decision and stands in solidarity with mental health awareness. She wrote on Instagram that her decision to accept the Miss USA crown "was not one that was made lightly." 

"With the little time I have as Miss USA, it is my intention to bring attention and focus onto the rebuilding of Lahaina," she said. 

However, many commenters on Instagram criticized her decision, accusing of her of not supporting Voigt.  

Spectrum News reached out to Miss USA and Miss USA Hawaii for more details, but did not receive a response. 

In 1997, Brook Lee won the Miss USA title. She went on to be crowned Miss Universe, after answering the question “If there were no rules in your life for one day and you could be outrageous, what would you do?” by saying “I would eat everything in the world.”