Finland's representative at the Miss Universe pageant has ignited outrage following the circulation of a viral photograph in which she appears pulling at the corners of her eyes. Sarah Dzafce, who recently lost her title as Miss Finland, shared this contentious image, captioned with 'eating with a Chinese,' which many consider disrespectful towards East Asians.
The fallout was swift, with significant backlash originating from countries such as Japan, South Korea, and China, alongside negative reactions directed at her representation of Finland, including its national airline, Finnair. In a reaction to the incident, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo labeled Dzafce's actions as 'thoughtless and stupid,' emphasizing the damage it has wrought on Finland's international reputation.
Dzafce attributed the gesture to an adverse reaction during dinner, claiming that the provocative caption was added without her consent. Despite her apologies for the hurt that the photo caused, criticisms continued, with some alleging that her expression of regret came off as insincere, particularly since it was shared in Finnish.
In a display of misguided support, two right-wing Finnish MPs mimicked Dzafce’s gesture, which led to widespread condemnation and the removal of their posts. Finnish Prime Minister Orpo criticized their behavior, asserting that elected officials should exemplify decorum.
This incident has stirred deeper discussions surrounding racism in Finland, with calls for an investigation into anti-Asian discrimination gathering over 7,000 signatures. The Finnish embassy in Japan acknowledged the multiple inquiries related to Finland's efforts against racism, reaffirming the need for continuous action to mitigate these issues.
The Miss Finland Organization stated that gleaming respect for individuals regardless of their background or appearance is critical and deemed Dzafce's actions unacceptable. They expressed regret for any distress caused, especially to the Asian community.
