Miss Finland stripped of crown after viral photo sparks racism backlash

International

A STORM of controversy has engulfed Finland’s former Miss Universe delegate after a photo of her making a “slanted-eyes” gesture went viral, igniting accusations of racism and prompting condemnation from political leaders, lawmakers, and businesses.

In a BBC report, Sarah Dzafce, 22, who represented Finland at last month’s Miss Universe pageant in Thailand, was stripped of her Miss Finland title after she posted the photo on social media with the caption “eating with a Chinese.” The gesture is widely regarded as offensive toward East Asians, and the post quickly triggered outrage online.

The backlash spread beyond Finland, drawing sharp criticism from social media users in Japan, South Korea, and China. Anger over the incident also spilled over to Finland’s national airline, Finnair, which became the target of online calls for boycotts amid claims that the controversy reflected broader issues of racism in the country.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo weighed in on Monday, calling the gesture “thoughtless and stupid” and warning that the episode had caused reputational damage to Finland. He later criticized lawmakers who became involved in the controversy, saying public officials should model appropriate behavior.

Dzafce has denied malicious intent, saying the gesture was an involuntary reaction to a headache during dinner and claiming that a friend added the offensive caption to the Dec. 11 post without her permission, according to local media. She has since issued a public apology, saying the photo caused “ill will” and stressing that respect for people and cultures is important to her.

The apology, however, failed to quell criticism. Some online users described it as insincere, noting that it was written only in Finnish. Others said the harm had already been done, particularly to Asian communities who felt mocked by the image.

The controversy escalated further after two right-wing Finnish lawmakers, Juho Eerola and Kaisa Garedew, posted photos of themselves mimicking the same gesture in what they said was support for Dzafce. Both posts were later deleted following widespread backlash. Eerola apologized, saying he believed the former beauty queen had been punished too harshly.

Prime Minister Orpo condemned the lawmakers’ actions as “childish,” and local media reported that the Finns Party is now considering whether disciplinary measures are warranted. The episode has added a political dimension to what began as a social media scandal.

Finnair acknowledged that the controversy had affected the company, saying it had received reactions from customers abroad. In a statement posted on its Japanese X account, the airline distanced itself from the remarks of politicians and reaffirmed its commitment to diversity and respect.

The incident has also prompted broader scrutiny of racism in Finland. A Japanese resident launched a petition calling for an investigation into anti-Asian discrimination, which had garnered more than 7,000 signatures. Finland’s embassy in Japan said it had received numerous inquiries and admitted that racism remains a challenge requiring sustained efforts to address.

The Miss Finland Organisation said revoking Dzafce’s title was a “difficult but necessary” decision, emphasizing that the role carries responsibilities as a public role model. It apologized for the harm caused by the incident, particularly to Asian communities, and reiterated that racism in any form is unacceptable.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)