First Brigitta Schaback, now Olivia Yacé; why are Miss Universe contestants backing out?

The Miss Universe 2025 season has taken a dramatic turn, and pageant fans are stunned. Just days after Brigitta Schaback walked away from her Miss Universe Estonia title, another major figure has stepped back, and this time, it’s one of the pageant’s most celebrated finalists, Olivia Yacé of Côte d’Ivoire.

Yacé, who was crowned Miss Universe Africa & Oceania only days earlier, has sensationally renounced her title, sending shockwaves through the pageant world. Her decision comes barely a week after finishing in the global Top 5, a moment many expected would cement her place in Miss Universe history.

Instead, she’s walking away.

In a statement posted to Instagram, the 27-year-old starlet made it clear: she refuses to compromise her values.

“As the representative of Côte d’Ivoire… I witnessed firsthand that I was capable of accomplishing great things despite adversity,” she wrote. “But to continue on this path, I must remain true to my values: respect, dignity, excellence, and equal opportunity.”

With that, she announced she was resigning not only from her continental title but from any future affiliation with the Miss Universe Committee.

Yacé, who finished just behind pageant powerhouses from the Philippines, Venezuela, Thailand and Mexico, stressed that stepping down was an act of integrity. She said she wants to serve as a role model for young people and remain anchored in the principles that shaped her journey.

“Stepping away from this diminished role,” she said, “will allow me to dedicate myself fully to defending the values I hold dear.”

She also used her announcement to call on Black, African, Caribbean, American and Afro-descendant communities to keep pushing boundaries: “Our presence matters, and our voices must be heard.”

But Olivia’s exit isn’t happening in isolation. And that’s where the plot thickens.

Just days earlier, Brigitta Schaback also cut ties with the competition, blasting misalignment with her national director’s “values and work ethics.” The Miss Estonia organisation fired back, accusing Schaback of “inappropriate” and “harmful” public comments. The tension added fuel to already-growing speculation that something is amiss behind the scenes.

With two contestants pulling away in rapid succession, fans are now asking the obvious:

What’s really going on at Miss Universe, and who might be next?