A former Mutya ng Pilipinas candidate, Savannah Gankiewicz, has been crowned the new Miss USA 2023 after Noelia Voigt stepped down from her title. The Miss USA organization announced that the Filipino-American beauty queen will receive her crown in Hawaii on May 15.
“We are proud to crown Savannah Miss USA 2023. A true representation of vision, intelligence, and compassion,” said Miss USA Organization Chief Executive Officer and President Laylah Rose in a statement. “Her dedication to empowering women through self-love and confidence is inspiring, and we look forward to her impactful reign as Miss USA.”
Savannah, who was the first runner-up to Noelia at the Miss USA pageant held last September, expressed her gratitude on Instagram, thanking her supporters, family, friends, and the people of Hawaii. She also acknowledged Noelia in her post, saying, “it was the honor of a lifetime to share the stage with you during your crowning moment.”
Born to a mother from Maui and of Filipino descent, Savannah previously competed at Mutya ng Pilipinas in 2017, where she was a finalist and received the honor of Mutya ng Pilipinas Overseas Filipino Communities as a representative of the Filipino-Hawaiian community. After the pageant, she lived in the Philippines for over a year to work as a model.
Noelia resigned from her position as Miss USA on May 7, citing the importance of making decisions that prioritize mental health and personal growth.
