Miss USA Savannah Gankiewicz says she’s received death threats and hateful messages since being crowned
Miss USA Savannah Gankiewiczsaid she has received death threats and hateful messages since taking the crown in the wake ofNoelia Voigt’s shocking resignation and allegations against the pageant’s CEO.
Gankiewicz, 28, said in a speech that the backlash she’s received “breaks my heart.”
Savannah Gankiewicz, who was crowned Miss USA 2023 after the previous titleholder, Noelia Voigt, resigned for mental health reasons, has revealed that she has received death threats and hateful messages since taking on the role. The pageant has been embroiled in controversy, with allegations of a toxic work environment and failure to address a sexual harassment incident raised by Voigt against the pageant’s CEO.
In a video shared on social media, Gankiewicz expressed her disappointment at the bullying and harassment she has faced since being crowned. Despite the backlash, she has chosen to use her platform to highlight the positive change she aims to bring within the organization and to support her community, particularly in the wake of the devastating wildfires on her home island of Maui.
The controversy surrounding the Miss USA organization has been ongoing, with allegations of preferential treatment and sexual harassment leading to the resignation of former president Crystle Stewart and her husband Max Sebrechts. The organization has also faced scrutiny following the death by suicide of former Miss USA 2019, Cheslie Kryst, who had spoken out about the online abuse she faced after winning the title.
Gankiewicz has expressed her commitment to bringing attention to the rebuilding efforts in Lahaina, Maui, and to empower the class of 2024 and beyond. She will hold the Miss USA title until August, when a new contestant from the 2024 class of state titleholders will compete at the World.
“Since I’ve gotten this title, I’ve dealt with a lot of bullying and harassment, and it really does, it breaks my heart,” an emotional Gankiewicz said in a video shared on X last week.
“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,” she said as she wiped 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 coronation and celebration in Waikiki earlier this month, replacing former Miss USA Noelia Voigt after she announced her resignation on May 6.
Voigt, 24, said in anInstagram statementthat she was relinquishing the title to focus on her mental health, but days later NBC Newsobtained a copy of Voigt’s resignation letterin which she accused the pageant’s CEO of creating a toxic work environment and failing to address a sexual harassment incident she raised.
“There is a toxic work environment within the Miss USA organization that, at best, is poor management and, at worst, is bullying and harassment,” Voigt wrote. “This started soon after winning the title of Miss USA 2023.”
