Sarah Dzafce, 22, has been stripped of the Miss Finland title after a photo she shared on social media sparked backlash in several countries
Dzafce apologised and said the image had caused ‘ill will in many people'(Image: Getty)
Finland’s national beauty contest has stripped its winner of her crown following a controversial photo she posted online that sparked massive outrage.
The now-deleted image depicted the country’s Miss Universe representative stretching the corners of her eyes while seated at a dining table. This action is commonly recognized as offensive to people from China, Japan, and Korea.
The photograph was uploaded on December 11, alongside text mentioning “eating with a Chinese.” The content rapidly circulated across multiple nations, generating condemnation not only toward the beauty queen but also Finland as a whole. Finland’s government issued its first official statement several days afterward. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo described the action as “thoughtless and stupid” and cautioned that the controversy had grown “damaging” for the nation.
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The beauty queen at the heart of the controversy is 22-year-old Sarah Dzafce, who competed for Finland at last month’s Miss Universe competition in Thailand, reports the Express.
She has now been stripped of her Miss Finland crown after an internal investigation by the pageant organizers. Dzafce has insisted she had no intention of ridiculing anyone and claimed the gesture was connected to a headache she experienced during the meal.
She also stated that a friend wrote the caption without her consent, as reported by Finnish publication Ilta-Sanomat. Through an Instagram message, she expressed regret and acknowledged the photo had generated “ill will in many people.”
Dzafce has now lost her Miss Finland title following an internal review by the pageant organizers(Image: AP)
She penned, “That was not my intention in any way. One of the most important things for me is respect for people, their backgrounds and differences.”
However, several internet users rejected the apology as “insincere” since it was composed in Finnish instead of English or another globally recognized language.
The backlash quickly spilled over into Finnish political circles. Two conservative lawmakers, Juho Eerola and Kaisa Garedew, shared images of themselves mimicking the identical gesture to demonstrate solidarity with Dzafce.
Sarah Dzafce represented Finland at last month’s Miss Universe pageant in Thailand(Image: Jam Press/@sarahdzafce)
Both posts were subsequently deleted following intense backlash. Eerola issued an apology and contended that Dzafce had received a “disproportionately harsh punishment.”
Prime Minister Orpo criticized the legislators’ behavior as “childish” and emphasized that elected representatives should act with accountability. According to local news outlets, their political party, the Finns Party, is currently weighing potential disciplinary measures against them.
The scandal has also impacted Finnish corporations. Finnair informed broadcaster Yle that online calls to boycott Finland had emerged. In a message to its Japanese clientele, the carrier stated that comments made by certain Finnish politicians “do not represent the values of Finnair.”
Dzafce has claimed she did not intend to mock anyone(Image: AP)
Public outcry has been intense across Japan, South Korea, and China. A Japanese resident living in Finland initiated a petition demanding an inquiry into anti-Asian prejudice, collecting over 7,000 signatures.
Finland’s diplomatic mission in Japan reported receiving “numerous opinions and questions” regarding how the nation tackles racism. The Miss Finland Organization described stripping Ms Dzafce of her title as a “difficult but necessary” decision.
In their official statement, they emphasized that the position requires showing respect toward every individual “regardless of their origin, background, or appearance”, stating: “Racism is never acceptable in any form. We are deeply sorry for the harm these events have caused.”
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