Miss Finland was dethroned after a widely shared “Slanted-Eyes” photo sparked a global backlash against racism

Sarah Dzafce, the former Miss Finland, loses the title when an inflammatory photo sparks indignation throughout Asia and domestic political unrest.

Following a worldwide racism issue triggered by a viral photo, Finland’s entrant at the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand last month was stripped of her crown.

In an image she posted, 22-year-old Sarah Dzafce pulled the corners of her eyes and wrote, “Eating with a Chinese.” The gesture sparked a fierce backlash in China, South Korea, and Japan and is generally considered disrespectful to East Asians.

Beyond the beauty queen, Finland and its national airline, Finnair, were also the target of criticism. Finland’s political leadership has publicly denounced the controversy.

On Monday, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called the incident “damaging” to the nation and stated that such actions were “thoughtless and stupid.”

According to Finnish tabloid Ilta-Sanomat, Ms. Dzafce stated the offending caption was added by a friend without her permission and that the gesture was a response to a headache she was having during dinner.

On Instagram, she later apologized, stating that the post had “caused ill will in many people.”

“I had no intention of doing that at all. Respect for individuals, their backgrounds, and their diversity is one of my top priorities,” she added.

Because it was written in Finnish, some commenters criticized the apology for being disingenuous.

I doubt Chinese people outside of Finland would comprehend it. One commenter said, “Such a thoughtful and heartfelt apology.”

“That was uncalled for, Asian people didn’t do anything to you,” another person remarked. You continue to disappoint us.

When two right-wing Finnish MPs, Juho Eerola and Kaisa Garedew, shared images imitating the gesture in what appeared to be support for Ms. Dzafce, the dispute intensified. Later, both posts were removed. Eerola expressed regret, stating that the former beauty queen had been subjected to “disproportionately harsh punishment.”

MPs should set an example of appropriate behavior, according to Prime Minister Orpo, who called the parliamentarians’ acts “childish.” According to reports, the Finns Party is debating whether disciplinary action is necessary.

Finnair acknowledged that the criticism, which included requests for travelers to boycott Finland, had an impact on the airline.

On its Japanese X account, Finnair stated that the postings or sentiments made by several Finnish lawmakers did not reflect the airline’s principles.

“We pledge to treat everyone with respect as an airline backed by workers from a variety of backgrounds and clients worldwide.”

In Finland, the topic has also rekindled discussions about racism. According to Asahi Shimbun, a petition started by a Japanese resident demanding an investigation into anti-Asian discrimination had amassed over 7,000 signatures by Sunday.

The Finnish embassy in Japan acknowledged that “racism remains a challenge in Finnish society, and its resolution requires continuous and resolute efforts” and said that it had received “numerous opinions and questions” regarding the nation’s attempts to combat racism.

Removing Ms. Dzafce’s title was a “difficult but necessary” move, according to the Miss Finland Organization.

According to the statement, “Miss Finland has a role-model status that necessitates respecting everyone regardless of their origin, background, or appearance.”

“We sincerely apologize for the hurt these incidents have caused. To everyone impacted, but especially to the Asian community. Racism in any form is never acceptable.