Savannah Gajda: The Sideline Storyteller Turning Loss into Light

At just 24, Savannah Gajda embodies the kind of dynamism that feels both timeless and urgent. The Polish-American sports broadcaster, breast cancer and grief advocate, and aspiring beauty queen is no stranger to hard work—or to heartbreak. A second-year law student at New York Law School on a full scholarship, Savannah is currently vying for the title of Miss New Jersey USA 2025. But beyond the crown, she is chasing something far more profound: legacy.

“My mom’s radiance and energy have always been my guiding light for having a positive outlook toward anything in life. Growing up, my elementary school classmates called me ‘Smiley’ or ‘Sergeant Smiles,’” Savannah shares, her voice equal parts steel and sunshine. “I liked seeing the glass as overflowing—until I faced a loss which made that mindset difficult to maintain.”

Early last year, Savannah lost her beloved mother, Angelina Von Pauter, to breast cancer. “Nothing prepares you for the loss of a parent especially this early in life,” she says. “When it happens so quickly, it forces you to reassess everything. What matters. Who you are. What you want your life to stand for.”

For Savannah, that reassessment birthed Loss to Light—a bold service initiative aiming to turn tragedy into impact. “If I can make a meaningful difference to help keep even one mom alive for her daughters or help one family cope with their grief this year,” she says, “then Loss to Light and my mom’s legacy will be off to a promising start.”

Her initiative is already taking root. Savannah has been invited to speak at schools to inspire students with her story and to teach children the skills they need to overcome any loss in life by channeling their inner strength and working on their mindset. “We’re starting locally with hopes to expand nationwide and eventually internationally,” she explains. “It’s about equipping people with tools. With hope.”

A summa cum laude graduate of The George Washington University, Savannah's resume reads like a greatest hit of global prestige: the White House, FIFA, the Paris Olympics, and twice, the Super Bowl. “Working at Super Bowl LVIII was a dream,” she says with a sparkling eye and wide smile. “I want to be the woman America sees every football Sunday—on the sidelines, telling the stories behind the scores.”

Savannah’s love for sport runs deep, as does her flair for language. She speaks five—Polish, English, and is progressing toward her goal of fluency in German, Spanish, and French. “Each language is like a key,” she muses. “A way into someone’s heart, culture, and truth.”

Off the field and away from the classroom-to-courtroom spaces she spends most days in, Savannah can be found sweating it out at Orange Theory Fitness or behind the mic of her hockey-focused podcast Chirpin’ with the Chicks. “It has a nice ring to it, right?” she laughs. “It’s where I get to be goofy, opinionated, and real.”

But perhaps what’s most compelling about Savannah isn’t her credentials—it’s her clarity. She is a woman with a mission, fueled by grief but defined by grace.

“When people ask why I do so much, I tell them—I’m building something,” she says. “A life that honors the remarkable woman my mom was. A voice that empowers others. And a future where strength and softness can live side by side.”

Whether she’s holding a microphone, a law brief, or a sash, Savannah Gajda is proving that crowns aren’t just worn on the head—they’re built in the heart.

Credits:

Model: Savannah Gajda
Photographer: Fadil Berisha
Hair & Makeup: Anabel Vargas
Styling: Blair Berisha
Producer: Brodeur Beauties
Manager: Thom Brodeur