Former Miss USA Savannah Gankiewicz (right) with recently-proclaimed Miss Teen USA Addie Carver/MISS USA FACEBOOK PHOTO
Filipino-American model Savannah Gankiewicz bade goodbye to her Miss USA title barely two months since receiving it after she crowned her successor on Sunday, Aug. 4 (Aug. 5 in Manila)
The Hawaii-based former Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities titleholder relinquished her Miss USA crown to Alma Cooper, an Army officer from Michigan, at the competition held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.
Gankiewicz, who was first runner-up in last year’s national pageant, inherited the Miss USA title after Noelia Voigt abdicated the throne in May. Because of this, Cooper has become the third woman to hold the title within the year.
Newly-crowned Miss USA Alma Cooper/MISS USA FACEBOOK PHOTO
The new queen bested 50 other aspirants to become the United States’ representative at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico later this year.
“As the daughter of a migrant worker, a proud Afro Latina woman and an officer of the United States Army, I am living the American dream. If there’s anything that my life and my mother have taught me, it’s that your circumstances never define your destiny: You can make success accessible through demanding excellence,” Cooper said during the final round of questioning.
Kentucky’s Connor Perry settled for the first runner-up spot, while Oklahoma’s Danika Christopherson finished as second runner-up.
Tennessee’s Christhell Foote was proclaimed as third runner-up, while Ohio’s Macy Hudson rounded up the winners’ circle as fourth runner-up.
Filipino-American aspirants also made the cut in the competition. Hawaii’s Breea Yamat advanced to the Top 10, while New York’s Marizza Delgado landed a spot in the Top 20.
Filipino pageant shoemaker Jojo Bragais sat in the judging panel. He also provided the shoes in the competition, and the sister tilt Miss Teen USA.
Cooper will be joined by Filipino bet Chelsea Manalo in the 2024 Miss Universe pageant.