Maui native crowned new Miss USA following pageant controversy hawaiitribune-herald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from hawaiitribune-herald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
In a surprising turn of events, Miss Hawaii USA Savannah Gankiewicz, who was initially the first runner-up at the 2023 Miss USA pageant, has now been crowned Miss USA. This unexpected twist comes amidst significant upheaval within the organization. The 28-year-old was officially crowned by Hawaii Governor Josh Green in a ceremony held in Honolulu, marking a significant moment in her pageant journey.<br /><br />Gankiewicz steps into the role following the unexpected resignation of Noelia Voigt, who cited mental health reasons for stepping down. However, Voigt's resignation letter to the Miss Universe organization revealed deeper issues, accusing CEO Laylah Rose of fostering a "culture of fear and control." Voigt alleged that the Miss USA management frequently neglected to arrange adequate travel accommodations and failed to provide an "effective handler," leading to an incident of sexual harassment during a Christmas parade in Sarasota, Florida.<b
Miss USA resigns: What s going on behind the scenes of the beauty pageant? slate.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from slate.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Miss Colorado Arianna Lemus resigned in solidarity on Friday, writing that Voigt and Srivastava's "voices have been stifled by the constraints of a contract that undermines their rights and dignity," and calling for urgent reform within Miss USA.