Top News

1. Iceland’s Helena O’Connor

The Miss Universe Iceland organization announced through social media on Nov. 8 that O’Connor would not compete this year, citing “personal reasons.” The organization added that O’Connor had fallen ill and was currently recovering.

2. Germany’s Diana Fast

Diana Fast, who represented Germany at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant. Photo from Fast’s Instagram

Fast shared her decision via social media in early November, saying she wanted to focus on her family and on building a new home for her son, according to Hello! magazine.

The Miss Universe Germany organization expressed its support for her decision, retaining her title and choosing not to appoint a replacement. As a gesture of goodwill, Fast and the organization donated 30,000 euros (US$34,736) to HeartPawject, a Thai nonprofit that rescues and shelters injured and homeless animals.

“Thailand has given so much beauty, love, and warmth to the world, and now together with my organization, we want to give something back,” Fast said in a video posted on the official Instagram account of Miss Universe Germany.

3. Niger’s Zoul Amadou

Zoul Amadou, who represented Niger at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant. Photo from Amadou’s Instagram

Amadou was set to make history as Niger’s first-ever contestant at Miss Universe. However, logistical delays prevented her from reaching Thailand in time, forcing her withdrawal in early November.

“My plane ticket arrived too late, and the available flights no longer allowed me to reach Bangkok in time for the competition,” she wrote on Instagram.

She added that the Miss Universe Organization had invited her to compete in the 2026 pageant.

4. Persia’s Sahar Biniaz

Sahar Biniaz, who represented Persia at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant. Photo from Biniaz’s Instagram

In mid-October, Biniaz announced her withdrawal in solidarity with her national director Golshan Barazesh, who had been detained during a visit to Iran.

“Out of deep respect and concern for her safety and well-being, I’ve made the difficult decision to withdraw from this year’s competition,” Biniaz wrote on social media.

This marks the second interruption of her Miss Universe journey. In 2012, after winning Miss Universe Canada, she had to step down from competing at the global pageant in Las Vegas.

The 2025 Miss Universe pageant has been marked by controversy. Thai businessman and pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil was dismissed earlier this month after publicly berating Mexico’s representative Fátima Bosch during the annual sashing ceremony for refusing to participate in a sponsorship shoot, as reported by the New York Post.

“Mexico, where are you?” Itsaragrisil asked, escalating into a five-minute confrontation livestreamed on the Miss Universe Thailand Facebook page. At one point, he called Bosch a “dummy,” prompting widespread backlash from pageant fans globally.