Another titleholder has stepped away from Miss Universe as Helena Hafþórsdóttir O’Connor announced her resignation from her role as Miss Universe Iceland, becoming the latest contestant to cut ties with the pageant amid mounting controversy.
In a statement shared on Instagram on December 15, O’Connor said she considers her contract with the Miss Universe Iceland organization “terminated” and confirmed that she is relinquishing her title of Miss Universe Iceland 2025.
Her decision follows claims that she was withdrawn from the Miss Universe competition without her consent while undergoing treatment for severe food poisoning in Thailand.
“Unfortunately things took a quick turn when I got severe food poisoning and was pulled out of the competition,” O’Connor wrote.
She alleged that, despite assurances from Miss Universe Organization representatives that she would be given time to recover and still compete, the Icelandic national pageant director removed her from the event.
O’Connor further claimed the decision was made “despite my family’s pleas to the national director to let me get better so I could stand a chance at competing.” She also alleged that, upon returning home, she was told she would have to pay a penalty to continue her reign as Miss Iceland.
“I find this profoundly strange as I was fighting for my health, fighting to stay in the competition, at the time when they pulled me out,” she wrote, adding that she believes the organization “completely broken our contract.”
In a statement to People, the organization “categorically” denied that she was removed from the competition without consent, stating that O’Connor “independently and unequivocally communicated her decision to withdraw,” and that written documentation exists supporting that claim.
Regarding penalties, Miss Universe Iceland said there is “no penalty being imposed” for O’Connor’s non-participation in Miss Universe. However, specific contractual obligations apply to anyone who retains the Miss Iceland title.
The organization also denied claims that O’Connor was forbidden from speaking about her illness, saying it merely requested coordinated public communication while details were being clarified.
O’Connor, however, concluded her statement by saying she could see “no way of being able to continue to work under these circumstances,” adding, “I refuse to have my voice silenced.”
Her resignation comes as Miss Universe continues to face fallout from a turbulent 2025 competition.
In the weeks leading up to the November 21 pageant in Bangkok, the organization faced multiple controversies, including a widely circulated confrontation between a pageant executive and the eventual winner, Fátima Bosch; the resignations of several judges; and allegations of irregularities in the judging process.
O’Connor joins a growing list of former titleholders who have stepped down. Olivia Yacé, who placed in the top five at Miss Universe 2025, resigned from her Miss Universe Africa and Oceania title on November 24, citing personal values.
Earlier, Brigitta Schaback also resigned from her role as Miss Universe Estonia, stating that her values did not align with those of her national organization.
