Miss Côte d'Ivoire Olivia Yacé resigns after narrowly missing out on Miss Universe title
Yacé says resigning from the “diminished" Miss Universe role would allow her to dedicate herself fully to defending the values she holds dear.
Côte d'Ivoire's beauty queen Olivia Yacé has announced her resignation from her role as Miss Universe Africa and the Oceania days after she placed in the top five at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant.
Yacé, who was raised in Côte d'Ivoire’s commercial capital, Abidjan, before pursuing her studies in the United States, represented the West African nation at the 74th international competition in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 21st.
The 27-year-old, a fluent speaker of English, Spanish, and French, who holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Marketing Management, was widely held as the fan-favourite to win, according to various reports.
However, the Côte d'Ivoire model finished as the fourth runner-up, behind the winner, Mexico’s Fátima Bosch Fernández, and representatives from Thailand, Venezuela, and the Philippines.
In a lengthy social media post, Yacé revealed her reasons for renouncing her continental title, saying that her “greatest wish” is to encourage young girls to “push their limits, walk confidently into rooms where they believe they do not belong, and to proudly embrace their identity,” adding that her commitment to this goal motivated her resignation.
The controversy surrounding the Miss Universe 2025 contest was stoked when the organisation's head, Raul Rocha, explained how the title-holder was selected following the November 21st contest. He noted that citizens of Côte d'Ivoire require visas to enter 175 countries.
Speaking in Spanish during a livestream interview, Rocha said: "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. Some of them require six months’ notice. The year's already gone, right?"
He added that a Miss Universe title-holder is “the one who travels the most and has the most contact with people in the world. If they require a visa in 175 countries, it's kind of difficult, no?"
Rocha’s comments caused an uproar, as they were seen by many as a direct justification for not awarding Yacé a higher title.
Yacé's fellow contestant Ophély Mézino — who represented Guadeloupe and placed in the top 12 — seemingly responded to Rocha's comments on social media, accusing the Miss Universe head of trying to find a “racist excuse” for “not choosing someone highly qualified for the job.”
In her post, Yacé, who works as a model and events planner, asserted that resigning from the “diminished role” would allow her to defend the values she holds dear.
During her reign as Miss Côte d'Ivoire, which began in 2021, she led initiatives for the enhancement of natural complexions, acceptance of one’s identity, women’s rights, and the right to education for all.