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Cote d'Ivoire's Olivia Yace

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176407250781217639924577291763708323841AFP__20251121__84NX3VD__v3__MidRes__ThailandMissUniversePageant.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Cote d&#x27;Ivoire&#x27;s Olivia Yace during the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand. <em>Lillian Suwanrumpha, AFP/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>The president of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has courted controversy yet again, this time for his remarks about one of the pageant&#x27;s well-loved candidates this year. </p><p>In a live video which has been reposted by pageant pages online, MUO president Raul Rocha was asked about why he thinks Cote d&#x27;Ivoire&#x27;s Olivia Yace did not win the Miss Universe crown despite her impressive performance in the competition.</p><p>Speaking in Spanish, the Mexican executive cited Yace&#x27;s supposed &quot;weak passport,&quot; which would make it difficult for her to travel to different countries as she would need to secure visas.</p><p>&quot;Look at how many countries Cote d&#x27;Ivoire needs a visa in order to enter: 175! What? Yes, 175!&quot; he said, adding that Yace might end up spending her reign in her apartment.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F839402298840372%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=267&amp;t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Yace, who finished fourth runner-up in the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2025/11/21/mexico-wins-miss-universe-2025-crown-ph-s-ahtisa-manalo-is-3rd-runner-up-1208">74th Miss Universe</a>, has yet to address the matter publicly as of writing. She also was given the Miss Universe Africa and Oceania title, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2025/11/24/c-te-d-ivoire-s-olivia-yac-renounces-miss-universe-africa-oceania-title-2331">which she later renounced</a>.</p><p>Fatima Bosch of Mexico won the crown, although her victory was questioned by many pageant fans amid rigging allegations, which <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2025/11/24/-no-judge-resigned-miss-universe-president-speaks-up-amid-rigging-allegations-1405">Rocha already denied</a>.</p><p>As his video circulated online, Rocha drew flak for his statements about Yace, with many calling the MUO president &quot;racist&quot; and &quot;unfair.&quot;</p><p>Guadeloupe&#x27;s Ophely Mezino stood up for Yace in an Instagram Stories post, saying that what Rocha did shows his &quot;lack of respect&quot; for contestants like them, as well as everyone who has supported the Miss Universe brand.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:600px;display:block" width="600"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764073640032Screenshot 2025-11-25 202600.png" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="600"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screenshot from Ophely Mezino/Instagram</em></span></span></span></div><p>&quot;Are you trying to find a racist excuse for the fact that you didn&#x27;t choose someone who was highly qualified for this job?&quot; she asked.</p><p>Mezino went on to point out that Yace actually has an American passport as she expressed her frustration. &quot;My heart is burning. I don&#x27;t like injustice,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>The president of the Miss Universe Organization has courted controversy yet again, this time for his remarks about one of the pageant's well-loved candidates this year.</p>

The president of the Miss Universe Organization has courted controversy yet again, this time for his remarks about one of the pageant's well-loved candidates this year.

Miss Universe president says Cote d’Ivoire’s Olivia Yace lost because of 'weak passport'

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Miss Universe president says Cote d’Ivoire’s Olivia Yace lost because of 'weak passport'

ABS-CBN News

Published November 25, 2025 08:29 PM PHT

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Raul Rocha

Olivia Yace

Miss Universe

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