Cote d’Ivoire rescinds Miss Universe Africa and Oceania title

By: Hannah Mallorca

Cote d’Ivoire’s Olivia Yace stepped down from her position as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, just a few days after she was bestowed with the title.

Yace announced her resignation in a statement in English and French on Monday, November 24, saying she wants to “remain firmly anchored” in her values as it helps her carve a path toward excellence. 

“As the representative of Cote 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 [with] the strongest pillars that guide me,” she said.

Aside from resigning from her title, the Ivorian beauty queen said she will end all affiliations with the Miss Universe Organization (MUO).

“Throughout my journey as an ambassador and beauty queen, I have served with commitment, resilience, discipline, and determination. However, to fully reach my potential, I must firmly remain anchored in my values, guiding principles, that pave the way toward excellence,” she added.

Yace explained that resigning from her title allows her to fully inspire young girls to “be a positive influence, push their limits, [and] walk confidently in rooms where they believe they don’t belong,” seemingly addressing the continental queen designation as a “diminished” title.

This seemingly referenced her response in the question and answer portion of the Miss Universe pageant where she was asked: “If you win the title of Miss Universe tonight, how would you use this platform to empower young girls?

Part of her answer at the time, was, “I would want to be the face of a representation of a new generation that mixes culture, that mixes modern and traditional. I want to be the face of a new era of women that are bold, that are leaders, that are unapologetic about who they are. If I’m Miss Universe, I want to be a role model for all the young girls and let them know that you too can make it. Go in those rooms where you think you don’t belong, shine and make sure you assume your identity.”

Diminished role

Yace’s statement came on the heels of allegations that the staging of the Miss Universe pageant had been rigged in favor of Mexico’s Fatima Bosch. The Mexican beauty queen has been toeing the Miss Universe line that her victory is “destined by God,” amid claims, especially by one of the resigned pageant judges, that it was more likely due to her affiliation with MUO president Raul Rocha.

Completing Bosch’s court are Thailand’s Praveenar Singh as first runner-up, Venezuela’s Stephany Abasali as second runner-up, the Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo (third runner-up), and Yace, who was also designated as continental queen.

Reacting to the results of the pageant and her eventual designation, Yace said, she is stepping away from “this diminished role of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania” in order to dedicate herself fully fully to defending her values.

“I call upon Black, African, Caribbean, American, and Afro-descendant communities: continue entering spaces where you are not expected. Let us open the way for the brothers and sisters who will follow us. Never let anyone define who we are or limit our potential. Our presence matters, and our voices must be heard,” she continued.

Withdrawal from MUO?

Meanwhile, the Miss Cote d’Ivoire organization said in a statement in French that Yace will return her title to the MUO organization so that “no one ignores and testifies to this joint organization.”

The organization did not categorically say if it is withdrawing from the MUO.

The MUO has yet to address Yace’s resignation and announce who will take over the Miss Africa and Oceania position, as of this writing.

The remaining continental queens include the following: Miss Universe Asia 2025 – China’s Zhao Na, Miss Universe Europe 2025 – Malta’s Julia Cluett, and Miss Universe Americas 2025 – Venezuela’s Abasali.

Yace, who was named fourth runner-up at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, was named one of the favorites to win the crown due to her magnetic presence and impressive performance at the question-and-answer segment. One of those who vouched for her potential to win the crown is Steve Byrne, noting her potential to bring pride to her country.