The Miss Universe Organization may soon be headed for new ownership.
According to People, Raul Rocha, the organization’s president and a 50 percent shareholder, has publicly acknowledged that he wants to sell his stake following weeks of controversy surrounding the 2025 competition.
Rocha addressed the future of Miss Universe during a November 24 interview with journalist Adela Micha, conducted just days after Fátima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
During the conversation, Rocha clarified his role within the organization and indicated that he no longer intends to remain at the helm in the long term.
“I’m looking for someone to pass it on to,” Rocha said, likening ownership of the pageant to a relay race. “Who do I pass the baton to?”
The businessman acquired Miss Universe in January 2024, taking over a globally recognized brand that has increasingly found itself in the spotlight for reasons beyond the competition itself.
Rocha indicated that constant scrutiny and public debate have contributed to his decision to consider stepping away.
“I’m so fed up,” he said during the interview, explaining that he has grown frustrated with outside voices weighing in on internal operations. Rocha noted that, even as owner and president, decisions on hires, leadership changes, and governance have faced relentless public scrutiny.
In the weeks leading up to the November 21 finale, Miss Universe made international headlines due to a series of high-profile disputes.
Earlier this month, a video circulated showing a tense exchange between pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil and Bosch, then representing Mexico. Rocha later announced sanctions against Itsaragrisil, including restrictions on pageant activities.
Additional turmoil followed when musician Omar Harfouch resigned from the selection committee, alleging that an alternative jury had already chosen the finalists before the preliminary rounds. The Miss Universe Organization denied those claims.
On the same day, former professional soccer player Claude Makélélé also withdrew as a judge, citing personal reasons. At the same time, the committee’s president, Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, later announced her resignation.
Against that backdrop, contestant resignations have continued to mount. Most recently, Olivia Yacé, who represented Côte d’Ivoire and placed in the top five at Miss Universe 2025, announced she was stepping down from her title as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania and would end all future affiliations with the organization.
In a statement shared on November 24, Yacé said her decision was rooted in staying true to her personal values, including dignity, equal opportunity, and excellence. “To fully reach my potential, I must remain firmly anchored in my guiding principles,” she wrote, confirming that her resignation includes relinquishing her continental crown.
Yacé’s departure follows the exit of Miss Universe Estonia Brigitta Schaback, who also resigned from her national title days after competing in Bangkok.