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A native of Kihei, Savannah Gankiewicz was crowned Miss Hawaii USA 2023 on 15 November 2023 and will represent Hawaii at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada. Savannah, who is of Filipina, Polish and Vietnamese descent, made history as the first winner from Maui in over 20 years.
Miss Hawaii USA 2023 Savannah Gankiewicz is the daughter of a Polish-Vietnamese father and Filipina mother. She grew up on Maui with her mother and in Virginia with her father, attending middle school and high school in Virginia before returning to Maui at the age of 21.
A self-described travel bug, Savannah moved to the Philippines to model and compete in the Mutya Ng Pilipinas pageant, where she won the Miss Overseas Community title in 2017. She also spent time in Los Angeles where she was signed with a modeling agency before returning to Maui just prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.Savannah acts as an advocate for What Makes You Feel Beautiful, a 501 (c)3 nonprofit based on Maui that advocates for female empowerment. She says “It helps women cultivate self love. It helps them to stop being so critical, and it teaches us how to have a self-care routine and leadership capabilities.” As Miss Hawaii USA, Savannah will bring her program into high schools across the state.
The on-stage moments, the tension of the final two and the glory of the crowning, here are Savannah’s state pageant photos.
Lights, camera, action! Professional photoshoots are one of the perks that comes from winning a title.
