Miss Côte d’Ivoire Universe 2025, Olivia Yacé, has stepped down from her newly earned title as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, less than a week after securing the continental crown at the Miss Universe 2025 finale in Bangkok, Thailand. Her unexpected resignation, announced on Monday, November 24, comes amid a growing storm of controversies surrounding this year’s pageant.
Yacé, who finished as the 4th runner-up, released a bilingual statement in English and French explaining her decision. In it, she emphasised her desire to remain aligned with her values, a guiding compass she credits for her personal and professional achievements.
“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,” she wrote. “To continue on this path, I must remain true to my values: respect, dignity, excellence, and equal opportunity, the strongest pillars that guide me.”
She added that these principles ultimately led her to make the difficult choice to relinquish the title and sever all affiliations with the Miss Universe Organisation moving forward.
“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 affiliation with the Miss Universe Committee,” Yacé declared.
Her departure has added to the questions already circulating about the integrity of the 2025 Miss Universe competition. This year’s event has been engulfed in allegations of vote manipulation, high-profile withdrawals, and concerns raised by contestants and judges alike.
Miss Universe Palestine, Nadeen Ayoub, publicly criticised irregularities in the “Most Beautiful People” voting category on the official Miss Universe app. According to Ayoub, voting remained open even after the competition had officially concluded, despite her holding the leading position before the supposed cutoff. Her claims amplified growing public scrutiny regarding transparency in both the fan-voting app and the overall judging process.
Adding further weight to these concerns, Lebanese pianist and composer Omar Harfouch, an official member of the Miss Universe 2025 judging panel, announced his resignation shortly after the coronation night. Harfouch said he stepped down due to a lack of clarity in the voting procedures and a “disrespectful conversation” with Raul Rocha, whom he confronted over issues related to transparency. He also stated that he would refrain from performing the original music he composed for the event.
The controversies extended beyond contestants and judges. French football legend and Real Madrid icon Claude Makélélé confirmed he would not attend the pageant, citing “personal reasons.” In his statement, he stressed that his withdrawal should not be seen as criticism of the Miss Universe Organisation. Rather, he affirmed that he still respected the pageant’s ideals, saying, “The platform represents empowerment, diversity, and excellence, values I have always championed throughout my career.”
Yacé’s resignation, however, has become one of the most impactful developments since the finale. The daughter of a prominent Ivorian political family and a global favourite throughout the competition, she entered Miss Universe 2025 with a strong fan base following her high-ranking placement at Miss Universe 2021. Her decision to step down has sparked widespread conversation across Africa and the global pageant community, with many admirers praising her for choosing principle over prestige.
Despite the surrounding turmoil, Yacé’s statement remained focused on gratitude and integrity. She thanked her supporters, her country, and those who stood by her during the competition. For her, stepping down was not a retreat but a reaffirmation of her commitment to excellence and authenticity.
As the Miss Universe Organisation continues to face scrutiny over this year’s events, Yacé’s resignation underscores the broader challenges now confronting the pageant from transparency concerns to rebuilding trust among contestants, fans, and industry partners.
For many, the Ivorian beauty queen’s choice signals more than a title forfeited; it represents a call for higher standards in one of the world’s most influential pageants.