Ivorian beauty queen Olivia Yacé has relinquished her Miss Universe Africa and Oceania crown, citing a determination to stay faithful to her core values. The 2025 pageant fourth runner-up, who represented Côte d'Ivoire at the Bangkok finale, announced she was severing all connections with the Miss Universe Committee because continuing would force her to compromise on respect, dignity, excellence and equal opportunity.
Yacé framed her withdrawal as strategic rather than impulsive, explaining that the constraints of her continental role prevented her from fulfilling her real mission of empowering young girls. She urged Black and Afro-descendant people worldwide to boldly occupy spaces where their presence challenges expectations, insisting that communities from Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas must refuse to let others dictate their worth or cap their ambitions.
The former titleholder expressed readiness for her next chapter, declaring that Africa's moment has arrived while congratulating the new Miss Universe and thanking supporters who accompanied her throughout the journey.
Yacé framed her withdrawal as strategic rather than impulsive, explaining that the constraints of her continental role prevented her from fulfilling her real mission of empowering young girls. She urged Black and Afro-descendant people worldwide to boldly occupy spaces where their presence challenges expectations, insisting that communities from Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas must refuse to let others dictate their worth or cap their ambitions.
The former titleholder expressed readiness for her next chapter, declaring that Africa's moment has arrived while congratulating the new Miss Universe and thanking supporters who accompanied her throughout the journey.
