Olivia Yacé of Côte d’Ivoire has given up the title of Miss Universe Africa & Oceania 2025, only a few days after receiving it at the Miss Universe final held on November 21, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Yacé, 27, finished as the fourth runner-up in the competition. She announced her decision in a statement posted on November 24. In her message, she said she wanted to remain consistent with her principles.
She wrote that the values guiding her are “respect, dignity, excellence, and equal opportunity.” She added that to continue her work as a public representative, she needed to stay “firmly anchored” in those values and therefore would withdraw from the title and from “any future affiliation with the Miss Universe Committee.”
Yacé said she hoped to continue serving as a role model for younger generations. She encouraged young people, especially those from Black, African, Caribbean, American, and Afro-descendant communities, to enter spaces “where they are not expected” and to speak confidently about their identities.
The Miss Côte d’Ivoire Committee (COMICI) confirmed her resignation in a statement posted on Facebook. The committee said Yacé had withdrawn from all duties linked to the Miss Universe titles she received and would return her Africa & Oceania sash to the organizers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/
Other Resignations Linked to the 2025 Pageant
A second contestant, Brigitta Schaback, who represented Estonia, also stepped down from her national title after the competition. Schaback, 28, stated that her “values and work ethics” did not match those of her national director.
The Miss Estonia organization responded that some of Schaback’s recent public comments were inappropriate and not in line with the professional agreement all participants sign. The group said these comments caused controversy and that it had already started procedures to end her duties.
Several members of the Miss Universe judging panel also resigned in the days before the final event:
-
Omar Harfouch, who alleged that an unofficial group had been involved in choosing the Top 30 contestants. However, the Miss Universe Organization denied Harfouch’s allegations.
-
Claude Makélélé, who left, citing personal reasons.
-
Princess Camilla de Bourbon delle Due Sicilie, president of the selection committee, who also withdrew.
Controversies During the 2025 Competition
The pageant faced numerous disputes prior to the finals. On November 4, Mexican contestant Fátima Bosch Fernández was publicly scolded by a pageant executive, Nawat Itsaragrisil, during a pre-event ceremony.
He accused her of failing to complete an assigned task and had security escort her out. Many contestants stood up and left the room in protest.
Bosch, 25, later won the Miss Universe crown. She wrote on November 21 that she would continue to speak out for herself and others. The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, praised her response to the incident.
Another incident occurred when Miss Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, fell off the stage during the preliminary evening-gown round and was taken out on a stretcher. The organization later reported that she was recovering.
Pageant Outcome
The Miss Universe 2025 title was awarded to Fátima Bosch Fernández of Mexico.
The first runner-up was Praveenar Singh of Thailand, and the second runner-up was Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser of Venezuela.
Ahtisa Manalo of the Philippines finished in fourth place, one position ahead of Yacé.
