Sarah Dzafce, Finland's delegate to the recent Miss Universe pageant, ignited controversy with a viral photo where she pulled the corners of her eyes, captioned eating with a Chinese. This gesture, seen as derogatory towards East Asians, led to her being stripped of her title as Miss Finland, resonating poorly across Japan, South Korea, and China.
In response, Finland's Prime Minister condemned the act as thoughtless and stupid, emphasizing its damaging effects on Finland's international image. Dzafce claimed the action was a response to a headache and that her friend posted the offensive caption without her consent.
Despite her apology, citizens perceived it as insincere, especially as it was initially delivered in Finnish. Critics emphasized the disrespect shown to Asian communities, igniting further discussion on Finland's battle against racism. Local politicians posted similar gestures in support of Dzafce, which resulted in additional backlash against them for normalizing racially insensitive actions.
Finnair indicated that the scandal has affected its business, responding to calls for boycotting Finland. A campaign for investigating anti-Asian discrimination gained traction, gathering over 7,000 signatures. The incident has reignited discourse on racism within Finnish society, with the embassy acknowledging the societal challenges and emphasizing the need for consistent efforts to combat racism.
Amidst this uproar, the Miss Finland Organization stated that Dzafce's dethronement was a necessary action, reiterating the need for role models to respect diversity and all backgrounds. They expressed sincere apologies for any harm caused, particularly towards the Asian community.
