Miss Universe president implies Côte d'Ivoire's Olivia Yacé lost due to visa restrictions
Miss Universe Organization president Raúl Rocha insinuated that visa restrictions kept Miss Côte d'Ivoire Olivia Yacé from winning the crown.
Days after the final competition on Nov. 21, which Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch won, Yacé finished as fourth runner-up. The Ivorian beauty queen also emerged as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, but she later relinquished the title on Nov. 24.
In an interview with Mexican journalist Adela Micha on Nov. 25, Rocha spoke about how the 2025 winner was crowned. This came amid controversy surrounding Bosch's win, as an allegedly resigned judge claimed that the Mexican queen's victory was predetermined ahead of the coronation night.
"For those who say about Côte d'Ivoire, why didn't she win? There are many things that are valued," Rocha said in Spanish, as auto-translated by YouTube.
He then pointed out how Ivorian passport holders require visas to enter 175 countries.
"The job is for a year as Miss Universe. 175 countries require Cóte d'Ivoire's visa... 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 said.
"Some of them require six months' notice, right? Well, the year is gone. [There] are many things that are valued that people, pageant experts, fans, and all that, well, they can't figure it out and they say, 'Oh, how so?'"
He then continued to say that Miss Universe travels the most and has the most contact with people around the world.
"If she needs a visa in 175 countries, that's kind of difficult, isn't it?
In the Henley Passport Index for 2025, Côte d'Ivoire ranked 81st, with 168 destinations requiring a visa.
Miss Guadaloupe reacts
One Miss Universe 2025 candidate, Miss Guadaloupe Ophély Mézino, slammed Rocha's remarks.
"Did you steal the money of my Afro-Carribbean girls? Did you let them compete knowing they would never win this competition? Did you let them participate just to speak about diversity and inclusion?" she wrote in an Instagram story.
"Are you trying to find a racist excuse for the fact that you didn't choose someone who was highly qualified for this job?"
Mézino then noted that Yacé holds an American passport.
Yacé resigned from her title and stepped away from any future affiliation with the Miss Universe Committee in line with her values.
"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 remain firmly anchored in my values guiding principles that pave the way toward excellence," she wrote.
"It is this commitment to being a positive influence that guides my decision today. Stepping away from this diminished role of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania will allow me to dedicate myself fully to defending the values I hold dear," Yacé added.
Rocha previously addressed allegations of rigging, stating that no judge resigned and that his company's contract with Pemex, where Bosch's father is a long-time employee, has no relation to the Mexican beauty queen's victory in the 74th edition of the pageant.
