Miss Universe 2025: Beauty, Bias, and the Battle for Fairness

okolobicynthia
Dec 5
3 min read

Every year, the Miss Universe stage becomes the world’s glittering arena for beauty, culture, and ambition. But this year’s edition delivered more than gowns and crowns — it delivered controversy. A global uproar erupted when Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, was crowned Miss Universe, despite widespread conviction that Olivia Yacé, the radiant contestant from Côte d’Ivoire, was the clear favorite.

From social media hashtags to heated debates across continents, many viewers, especially Africans, believe Olivia was robbed — and they’re not mincing words. What happened on that stage has sparked a broader conversation about representation, fairness, and the deep-seated biases that continue to shape global competitions.

Let’s unpack the moment, and why it matters.

Olivia Yacé: The Crowd’s Winner, The Judges’ Mystery Miss-Out

Olivia Yacé is no stranger to the global spotlight. Charismatic, poised, articulate, and stunningly authentic, she carried Côte d’Ivoire with dignity and a warmth that resonated across borders. Many believed she delivered one of the strongest overall performances:

A captivating national costume reflecting Ivorian heritage
A flawless evening gown walk
A commanding presence
A message rooted in global unity and African empowerment

By the time she landed in the Top 5, the world was already calling her the unofficial winner.

So when her name wasn’t announced as the new Miss Universe, the internet exploded.

Why the Backlash? Because This Feel Familiar. Too Familiar.

For many people — especially Africans — Olivia’s loss felt less like a pageant outcome and more like a recurring pattern:

Exceptional African contestants — even the fan favorites — frequently fall short of the crown.

This isn’t about bitterness; it’s about patterns that raise eyebrows:

Zozibini Tunzi’s historic win in 2019 was celebrated precisely because it was so rare.
Time and again, African beauty queens with strong global support end up sidelined.
Fan votes, public sentiment, and exceptional performance often seem secondary to vague judging criteria.

The Miss Universe Organization has now been accused of inconsistency, lack of transparency, and even racial bias. The conversation isn’t just about Olivia — it’s about long-standing perceptions of how African women are positioned on the world stage.

The Heart of the Outrage: It’s Not About Beauty — It’s About Representation

Pageants are not just about crowns; they are cultural mirrors. When an African contestant shines and still loses, many viewers feel a deeper sting.

Because Olivia represented more than herself:

She represented West African beauty and elegance.
She represented the dreams of African girls who finally saw themselves reflected in global spaces.
She represented a continent constantly fighting to be seen, heard, and celebrated without bias.

Her loss felt like a dismissal of African excellence, even when it is impossible to ignore.

Miss Mexico’s Win: A Victory Overshadowed

Fatima Bosch is undeniably beautiful and accomplished. This blog isn’t an attack on her talent or legitimacy. But even many neutral observers admit:

The energy in the room shifted when Olivia didn’t win.

The disappointment was almost tangible.

Fatima’s moment of glory has been overshadowed by controversy — and that’s unfortunate. But it also speaks to something undeniable: the people’s choice was clear.

A Call for Transparency in International Pageants

The Miss Universe Organization now faces a crisis of trust.

Audiences are no longer passive. They are informed, vocal, and unafraid to challenge results that appear unfair or disconnected from public sentiment.

To rebuild credibility, pageants must:

Make scoring criteria more public
Reduce subjective bias
Balance judge decisions with audience votes
Diversify judging panels
Embrace cultural nuances in beauty representation

Because beauty is universal — but fairness must be, too.

Olivia Yacé Still Won — Just Not the Crown

Despite the outcome, Olivia leaves the Miss Universe stage as:

A continental icon
A global fan favorite
A cultural ambassador
A symbol of African grace and resilience

Sometimes the world crowns someone else — but history crowns the one people remember. Olivia Yacé achieved that effortlessly.

Her loss has ignited a global conversation, one that transcends rhinestones and sashes. A conversation about representation, equity, and the evolving meaning of beauty in a diverse world.

A Pageant, or a Mirror of Global Biases?

This year’s Miss Universe competition has become more than a beauty contest — it has become a cultural moment. A reminder that the world still has a long way to go in embracing the full spectrum of beauty and identity.

Whether the Miss Universe Organization listens is another question.

But what is clear is this:

Olivia Yacé didn’t walk home with the crown — she walked home with the world’s heart. And sometimes, that is the louder victory.