Miss Universe Iceland 2025 Breaks Away From Pageant Body After Illness and Forced Removal Claim

Post by : Saif Nasser

The Miss Universe pageant, known worldwide for glamour and empowerment, is once again facing controversy. This time, the spotlight is on Miss Universe Iceland 2025, Helena Hafþórsdóttir O’Connor, who has publicly announced that she has ended all ties with the Miss Iceland organisation.

In a detailed statement shared on social media on December 16, the 20-year-old model and titleholder said she was treated unfairly during the Miss Universe competition in Thailand. She claimed she was removed from the pageant without her consent after falling seriously ill and later pressured to pay a financial penalty to keep her title.

Helena won the Miss Iceland title on April 3, 2025. With that victory came the honour of representing Iceland at the Miss Universe competition held in Thailand on November 21. She said she spent months preparing for the international stage and fulfilled all duties expected of her as a titleholder.

According to Helena, her experience took a sudden turn when she suffered from severe food poisoning during the competition. She said her condition made her weak, but she was determined to recover and continue participating. Despite this, she claims the Miss Iceland organisation withdrew her from the competition without asking for her approval or allowing her the chance to return once she recovered.

Helena further alleged that after her removal, she was told she would need to pay a “penalty” if she wanted to keep the Miss Iceland title or formally step down. She said such conditions were never mentioned in her contract and felt deeply unfair. In her view, the organisation broke their agreement by taking away an opportunity she had earned through hard work.

She also claimed that she was discouraged from speaking openly about her illness and recovery. Helena said an official statement was released suggesting she had voluntarily withdrawn from the Miss Universe competition, which she strongly denied. She described this as misleading and damaging to her reputation.

Beyond her removal, Helena raised serious concerns about safety and living conditions at the competition venue. She mentioned poor security, limited access to basic needs, and unsafe food, which she believes contributed to her illness. She also highlighted that the Miss Iceland role was unpaid and placed heavy financial pressure on her.

Disappointed and hurt, Helena said she could no longer support a system she once believed stood for women’s empowerment and unity. She added that she would not encourage future winners to go through similar experiences. Her lawyer has now formally informed the Miss Iceland organisation that she is terminating the contract due to what she described as multiple breaches.

Despite the difficult experience, Helena ended her statement on a hopeful note. She thanked her family, friends, and supporters for standing by her during a challenging time and said she is looking forward to new opportunities ahead.

The Miss Iceland organisation has not publicly responded to her claims so far. As discussions around transparency, safety, and fairness in beauty pageants continue, Helena’s story adds to the growing debate about how contestants are treated behind the scenes.