Miss Hawaii Savannah Gankiewicz has faced an onslaught of online bullying in the week since she accepted the Miss USA crown following the shocking resignation of the original winner, Noelia Voigt.
Savannah Gankiewicz, 28, expressed her heartbreak over the backlash in an emotional speech on Friday while visiting the victims of the Lahaina wildfire.
“I don’t know if you’ve seen on social media, but since I’ve gotten this title, I’ve dealt with a lot of bullying and harassment,” the reigning pageant queen said, holding back tears. “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 accepted the Miss USA crown earlier this month after the original titleholder, Noelia Voigt, stepped down. The sudden change has led to a flood of hateful comments on Gankiewicz’s social media, with some accusing her of not deserving the title. More serious threats have called for her to be injured for accepting the role, and the bullying has even targeted her mother, with one person wishing harm on Gankiewicz.
Despite the cruelty, Gankiewicz has chosen to face the hate with grace and determination. She plans to fulfill her duties as Miss USA for the remaining five months with a focus on helping others, particularly the residents of Lahaina and Maui.
“It’s about helping Lahaina and helping Maui residents and having a platform but also showing young women that you can get bullied and you can get hurt, but you stand back up, and you keep going, and you keep using your voice,” Gankiewicz said to a supportive round of applause.
Gankiewicz took on the Miss USA title just days after Utah native Noelia Voigt relinquished it to prioritize her mental health. This unprecedented move marked the first time in the pageant’s 72-year history that a titleholder voluntarily stepped down. The situation was further intensified when 17-year-old Miss Teen USA, UmaSofia Srivastava, also resigned, with sources suggesting that bullying by management was a likely factor.
“This toxic atmosphere is a serious concern,” an anonymous insider told The Post, emphasizing the need for intervention at the leadership level.
Gankiewicz, a model, entrepreneur, and program director of the nonprofit What Makes You Feel Beautiful, stressed that her decision to accept the crown was not made lightly. In her statement, she paid tribute to Voigt, saying, “Noelia, it was the honor of a lifetime to share the stage with you during your crowning moment, and I wish you all the best in your next chapter.” She also committed to using her brief tenure as Miss USA to contribute to the rebuilding efforts in Lahaina on her home island of Maui.
