“I am stepping down from the title of Miss Universe Estonia,” Schaback wrote on Instagram on Sunday.

“My values and work ethics do not 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.”

She also updated her profile bio to read “Former Miss Universe Estonia 2025.”

Schaback’s decision followed a series of Instagram stories posted on Saturday, in which she said she “signed up for the wrong pageant” after allegedly being told to “stay silent and obey” at all times, according to the Inquirer.

“What I learned from Miss Universe is that speaking up is not always welcome. Stay silent and obey, back to patriarchy,” she wrote.

“I believed Miss Universe stood for empowerment, inclusivity, and equality, a platform where women can use their voice, share their purpose, and lead with confidence. That is why I thought I signed up.”

The Estonian beauty queen also criticized the pageant for asking contestants about their marital status, which was supposed to be irrelevant, as the Miss Universe organization states that mothers and married women are welcome to compete.

“I wanted to open a conversation: is it ever appropriate to ask about someone’s private life when applying for a job in any industry?” she wrote in an Instagram story now pinned to the top of her profile. “I used to work in technology and had a moment where I lost an opportunity because of a similar situation.”

Although she admitted feeling “scared” to speak out, Schaback said remaining silent would have felt like “ripping out” her spine.

The Miss Universe 2025 finale was held in Thailand on Friday. Mexico’s Fatima Bosch won the crown, with Thailand, Venezuela, the Philippines, and Ivory Coast taking first, second, third, and fourth runner-up spots, respectively.

The pageant results have drawn mixed reactions. Miss Universe 2018 titleholder Catriona Gray questioned the relevance of the question-and-answer segment, while French-Lebanese musician Omar Harfouch, who resigned from the judging panel before the final, called Bosch a “fake winner.”