Why Olivia Yacé Decided to Step Back from Her Miss Universe Title: Her Reflections and Insights

Miss Universe Cote d’Ivoire Olivia Yace during the 74th Miss Universe preliminary competition on November 19, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Mohan Raj/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Olivia Yacé was crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania at the 2025 pageant on Nov. 21
• She was representing Côte d’Ivoire at the 74th pageant and placed in the top five
• Just days after the pageant, Yacé announced that she was renouncing her Miss Universe Africa and Oceania title, while remaining Miss Côte d’Ivoire

Olivia Yacé placed in the top five at Miss Universe 2025 before renouncing her title. The philanthropist represented Côte d’Ivoire at the international competition in Bangkok, Thailand, where she was crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania on November 21. However, just days after receiving the crown, she decided to resign.

Yacé announced her decision to relinquish her title as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania via Instagram on November 24, stating, “With a heart full of gratitude and profound respect, I hereby announce my resignation from the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania as well as from any future affiliation with the Miss Universe Committee.”

This decision followed Brigitta Schaback’s resignation from her role as Miss Universe Estonia due to a misalignment of values with the National Director, Natalie Korneitsik. The Miss Estonia organization later deemed some of Schaback’s comments “inappropriate.”

The 2025 Miss Universe pageant faced multiple controversies, including allegations of rigging and the resignation of three judges just days before the event. The Miss Universe Organization has denied any claims of tampering.

Yacé represented Côte d’Ivoire at Miss Universe

Miss Ivory Coast Olivia Yace takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant on November 21, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.

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Yacé was crowned Miss Côte d’Ivoire in 2021 and went on to claim the title of Miss World Africa and was the second runner-up at Miss World 2022. At the 2025 Miss Universe pageant on November 21 in Thailand, she once again sought to represent her country on the global stage.

In her resignation announcement, Yacé expressed her desire to remain true to her values and focus on her mission of inspiring youth. She stated, “As the representative of Côte d’Ivoire at the Miss Universe 2025 competition in Bangkok, I witnessed firsthand that I was capable of accomplishing great things despite adversity. But to continue on this path, I must remain true to my values: respect, dignity, excellence, and equal opportunity the strongest pillars that guide me.”

In a call to the Black, African, Caribbean, American, and Afro-descendant communities, Yacé urged them to break barriers and enter spaces where they might feel unwelcome. She concluded her message by expressing gratitude for the support she has received and the experiences that have shaped her journey.

The Miss Universe Organization owner commented on Yacé’s resignation

President of Miss Universe, Raul Rocha speaks in the The 73rd Miss Universe Competition on November 16, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico.

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In the aftermath of Yacé’s resignation, Raul Rocha, owner of the Miss Universe Organization, suggested that her failure to clinch the title may have been tied to visa issues. He noted that citizens of Côte d’Ivoire require visas to travel to many countries, which could hinder opportunities.

“She’s going to be the Miss Universe who spent a whole year in an apartment because of the cost of the visa process with lawyers,” Rocha stated. “Some of them require six months notice. The year’s already gone, right?”