Brigitta Schaback Steps Down as Miss Universe Estonia Amid Pageant Controversies

Post by : Mina Rahman

The 74th iteration of Miss Universe 2025, hosted in Bangkok, Thailand, has become infamous for its controversies. Initially a celebration of beauty and cultural diversity, the pageant shifted into chaos with resignations, scandals, and public outcry. Recently, Estonia's Brigitta Schaback declared her resignation from the Miss Universe Estonia title on November 23.

Her decision follows significant public discontent regarding the crowning of Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch. As discussions erupted around the contest results, Schaback took to Instagram to announce her withdrawal from the title and the associated management.

In her social media post, she expressed that she could no longer support the leadership of Estonia's national director, Natalie Korneitsik, as their values conflicted. She made it clear that while her dedication to women’s empowerment remains strong, she will pursue advocacy on her own terms without being linked to Miss Universe Estonia. She stated, “I am stepping down from the title of Miss Universe Estonia. My values and work ethics don’t align with those of the national director, Natalie Korneitsik. My commitment is to women’s empowerment and equality, and I will continue this work independently without any further association with Miss Universe Estonia.”

Schaback's departure adds to an already tumultuous season for the global pageant. Earlier, Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch received public criticism from Thailand’s director, Nawat Itsaragrisl, which led to a walkout by several contestants in her support. This incident ignited online outrage and resulted in a public apology from Nawat.

The controversies escalated following Bosch's crowning, where viewers asserted that her final answer was not as compelling as those of other participants. Natalie Glebova, a former Miss Universe 2005 judge, voiced her disappointment on Instagram, labeling the true winner as someone else among the finalists and criticizing the lack of transparency in the judging process.

Adding to this turmoil, judge Omar Harfouch resigned just days before the conclusion, alleging that a “secret committee” had predetermined finalists and results prior to the onstage competition. In response to these claims, Miss Universe President Raul Rocha clarified that Harfouch had been removed from the judging panel.

With a series of resignations, allegations of manipulation, public conflicts, and rising skepticism towards the selection process, the 74th Miss Universe has morphed into one of the most contentious editions in history, overshadowing the event's intended celebration of global unity and talent.