As the Miss Universe 2025 pageant concluded, a new country captured public attention, including among Filipinos.
This is Côte d’Ivoire, a West African nation with a French colonial legacy, also known as the Ivory Coast.
Its 28-year-old representative, Olivia Yacé, shone on the global stage, placing fourth runner-up and bringing international recognition to her country in one of the world’s most prestigious beauty pageants
The inclusion of Ivory Coast in the Miss Universe 2025 Top 5 generated significant buzz, as that spot is usually dominated by delegates from the United States, the Philippines, and Latin American countries such as Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
This prompted some Filipinos to take a closer look at Olivia’s country, while others admitted they had only heard of it during the pageant.
“Napa-search sa Google Map ang mga bakla kung nasaan ang Cote d’Ivoire,” an online user wrote with a crying emoji.
It has earned 2,200 likes, 208 reposts, and 21 replies in the thread so far.
“Sa Miss U [Miss Universe] lang tayo makakilala ng ibang country,” another commented with a laughing emoji.
“‘Yung sinearch ko rin pano i-pronounce hahahaha,” a different Pinoy commented.
“‘Di ako aware rin,” another wrote with a grinning-with-sweat emoji.
“First time kasi marinig ‘yung bansa na ‘yun,” another Pinoy commented with a crying emoji.
Ivory Coast is known as the world’s top producer of cocoa and raw cashew nuts. It also boasts of housing the largest church in the world, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro.
The country is said to be popular with holidaymakers for its golden beaches, fading French colonial heritage and traditional Senufo cultural experiences.
Its representative, Olivia Yacé, is a philanthropist and entrepreneur who founded the Olivia Yacé Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering women and children through education and health initiatives.
She is also the General Manager of Olivia Yacé International, a Tourism Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire, and Brand Ambassador for Air Côte d’Ivoire.
The Ivorian beauty also earned buzz among Pinoys for her response in the Question and Answer portion of the Miss Universe 2025, where she encouraged girls to “shine” and “assume [their] identity.”
“I want to be the face of a new era of women that are bold, that are leaders, that are unapologetic about who they are. If I’m Miss Universe, I want to be a role model for all the young girls and let them know that you too can make it,” Olivia said.
READ: ‘Miss Nireverse?’: Miss Universe 2025 results baffle Pinoys
“Go in those rooms where you think you don’t belong, shine, and make sure you assume your identity,” she added.
Meanwhile, Philippine bet Ahtisa Manalo finished as third runner-up.
RELATED: Ahtisa Manalo finishes as 3rd runner-up at Miss Universe 2025
Mexico’s Fátima Bosch Fernández claimed the crown, succeeding the previous reigning Miss Universe, Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig. — with reports from Rosette Adel
READ: Mexico’s Fátima Bosch Fernández crowned Miss Universe 2025
