When a Crown Doesn’t Fit — What Happens When Standing for Truth Costs You a Title

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Following the 2025 Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Bangkok, the contestant Olivia Yacé of Côte d’Ivoire, who placed as fourth runner-up and won the continental title of Miss Universe Africa & Oceania — announced on November 24 that she renounced her title.

Yacé said the decision grew out of a deep conviction to remain true to her values of respect, dignity, excellence, and equal opportunity. By returning her sash and cutting ties with the pageant, she signaled that identity and integrity matter more than recognition —and invited others, especially young girls and communities of color, to walk boldly no matter the cost.

When culture or institutions demand more than our conscience will allow, how can we, as believers, stand by God-given dignity and integrity—even if it means giving up prestige?

I didn’t see the moment on live television, but I heard enough about it through the grapevine to know that it was messy. In a moment that caught public attention, Olivia Yacé renounced her title due to personal conviction. While it’s become quite the scandal, the twenty-seven-year-old notes that this had nothing to do with the organizations, but her heart:

“As the representative of Côte d’Ivoire at the Miss Universe 2025 competition in Bangkok, I witnessed firsthand that I was capable of accomplishing great things despite adversity,” she began in her statement. “But to continue on this path, I must remain true to my values: respect, dignity, excellence, and equal opportunity, the strongest pillars that guide me.”

With this counter-cultural nature of her decision in a world that often equates worth with visibility and prestige, Yacé’s choice invites all of us to ask an even larger question about identity, integrity, and the cost of standing firm. 

Why Does This Story Resonate Culturally?

Beyond pagent circles, Yacé’s story has struck a chord culturally. Why? Because we live in a world that praises influencers, prestige, and progress. Culture rewards compliance and silence, and shames the poor or unnoticed.  Not only that, but public platforms, like that of Miss Universe, often come with unspoken rules, guidelines, and expectations. 

For Yace, these cultural pressures wouldn’t just apply to her faith or beliefs, but her race. Being a woman of color, she was encouraged not to rock the boat. And yet, Yacé chose to walk away from recognition, challenging the assumption that success must be preserved at all costs. But this moment wasn’t a rejection of opportunity. This was a moment of moral courage. It was a commitment to her deepest desires and convictions. Something that Scripture has long honored for centuries, choosing obedience over applause every time. And that speaks volumes. 

While many biblical examples of costly faithfulness exist, Yacé’s story reminds me of three: