Finland’s reigning beauty queen has been stripped of her Miss Finland title after a controversial social media post mocking Asians sparked widespread backlash.
The 22-year-old Miss Finland, Sarah Dzafse, who represented Finland at the Miss Universe pageant held in Thailand last month, came under fire after sharing a photograph on social media. In the image, she was seen pulling the corners of her eyes, accompanied by a caption that read: “Having dinner with a Chinese.”
The post was widely condemned as racist, triggering strong reactions across Japan, South Korea, and China. Critics accused the beauty queen of promoting offensive stereotypes and disrespecting Asian communities.
Although Sarah later issued an apology for her actions, it was deemed insufficient by pageant authorities. As a result, the Miss Finland Organization decided to revoke her crown and title.
Reacting to the controversy, Finland’s Prime Minister described the act as “thoughtless and foolish,” adding that the ensuing backlash had damaged the country’s image internationally.
In a statement, the Miss Finland organizing committee said that racism in any form would not be tolerated, reaffirming its commitment to diversity, respect, and inclusivity.