Cote d’Ivoire’s Olivia Yace has a ‘weak passport’ that played a role in her failure to bring home the Miss Universe 2025 crown, according to Miss Universe Organization president Raul Rocha.
Yace rescinded her title as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania in a statement issued on Monday, Nov. 23, or just two days after she was proclaimed fourth runner-up to Mexico’s Fatima Bosch during the coronation show held in Thailand on Nov. 21.
In a live video on Tuesday, November 25, Rocha explained in Spanish that Yace’s alleged ‘weak passport,’ or limited travel access, might be difficult for the MUO to find a workaround, noting that Ivorian passports need to secure a visa before entering 175 countries.
‘For those who say [why] Cote d’Ivoire didn’t win, there are many things that need to be evaluated. Cote d’Ivoire needs – go to Google, for [everyone who] has a cellphone – and look for how many countries need a visa to enter: 175!’ he said.
Since the Miss Universe titleholder will be traveling around the world for her duties, Rocha said Yace might ‘spend a whole year in [her] apartment’ should she win the crown.
‘The job is for one year of Miss Universe; 175 countries ask for visas for Cote d’Ivoire. Well, then, she is going to be Miss Universe who might spend a whole year in the apartment,’ he said.
Yace has yet to address Rocha’s claims, as of this writing. Passport requirement for Miss Universe delegates?
Rocha’s claim has opened discussion on whether passport strength is a requirement for candidates before joining the global tilt.
Inquirer Entertainment has reached out to the Miss Universe Philippines organization to seek clarification but has yet to respond, as of this writing.
Since the launch of Miss Universe, there has been no announcement of passport strength or travel history as a requirement for candidates who want to represent their countries in the global tilt.
A native of Cote d’Ivoire, Yace is a daughter of a diplomat, Jean-Marc Yace, who, incidentally, currently serves as an honorary consul of the United Mexican States in Ivory Coast. As a former naval officer, Jean-Marc is also the current mayor of the Cocody commune of Abidjan.
The Ivorian beauty queen also reportedly holds a US passport, although she has yet to address the allegations, as of this writing. The US passport ranks 11th on the Henley Passport Index and has visa-free access to 180 countries.
Henley Passport Index is a global ranking of countries according to the travel freedom allowed by those countries’ ordinary passports for their citizens
On the other hand, Cote d’Ivoire is on the 83rd spot of the database and can enter 58 countries without obtaining a visa. Like Rocha, Bosch also holds a Mexican passport which has visa-free access to 157 countries. It holds the 23rd rank on the Henley Passport Index.
Rounding up the final five of Miss Universe 2025 are Thailand’s Praveenar Singh, Venezuela’s Stefany Abesali, and the Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo, whose passports have visa-free status in 80, 118, and 64 countries, respectively.
According to the Index, Thailand, Venezuela, and the Philippines rank 62nd, 48th, and 76th.
The passport of Bosch’s predecessor Victoria Theilvig, who hails from Denmark, can enter 187 countries without needing a visa.
‘Racist excuse’
Hours after Rocha’s claim, Guadeloupe’s Ophely Mezino stood up for Yace and her other pageant sisters in a lengthy Instagram Story, where she accused the MUO president of making up a ‘racist excuse’ to justify the Ivorian beauty queen’s fourth runner-up finish.
‘Are you trying to find a racist excuse for the fact that you didn’t choose someone who was highly qualified for the job? Did you even read our biographies when we [submitted] all our visa information? My girl has an American passport! What are you talking about?’ she said while referring to Yace. Mezino added that Rocha’s claims is a form of ‘injustice,’ which added insult to injury for candidates whose chances were ‘stolen’ from them.
‘You steal the money of small territories. You steal the hope of millions of people who don’t understand why they are not in the Top 30/12/5. This is the worst excuse I have ever heard. I have followed pageantry for a decade now. This is humiliation, a lack of respect for the contestants, the families, the representatives who just put so much energy into your brand. How do you disrespect those countries like that?’ she said.