Estonia’s Brigitta Schaback criticizes Miss Universe 2025, relinquishes title

Estonia’s Brigitta Schaback Criticizes Miss Universe 2025 and Relinquishes Title

Estonia’s Brigitta Schaback, who earned the Miss Universe Estonia 2025 crown and represented her country at the global Miss Universe competition, has made headlines by publicly stepping down from her title.

In a strongly worded statement shared on Instagram, Schaback announced that she could no longer continue under the leadership of the National Director, Natalie Korneitsik, citing irreconcilable differences in values and work ethics. She emphasized that her personal mission is rooted in women’s empowerment and equality, and she intends to pursue this independently, without any further association with Miss Universe Estonia.

Her resignation followed a series of Instagram stories in which she expressed disillusionment with the pageant. Schaback revealed that she felt she had “signed up for the wrong pageant” after allegedly being instructed to “stay silent and obey” at all times. She criticized the environment as one that discouraged speaking up, describing it as a return “back to patriarchy.” This candid criticism highlighted her belief that the Miss Universe framework, at least under her national leadership, was not aligned with the values of empowerment and self-expression that she champions.

The announcement has sparked conversations about the broader culture of beauty pageants and the tension between traditional expectations of contestants and modern ideals of equality and autonomy.

By updating her social media profile to read “Former Miss Universe Estonia 2025,” Schaback made clear that her departure was final and symbolic of her commitment to charting her own path. Her decision underscores a growing movement among women in pageantry who are challenging outdated norms and demanding spaces that genuinely reflect empowerment rather than compliance.

This development not only marks a turning point in Schaback’s personal journey but also raises questions about the future of Miss Universe Estonia and the global pageant industry.

Whether her bold stance will inspire structural changes or remain a singular act of protest, it has already ignited debate about the role of pageants in modern society and the balance between tradition and progress.