The representative of Finland in the Miss Universe pageant, held last month in Thailand, was embroiled in a strong international controversy after posting on social networks a photograph that was widely considered racist. The protagonist of the scandal was Sarah Dzafce, then Miss Finland, whose action provoked a wave of criticism especially in East Asian countries and led to both personal and institutional consequences.
The controversy originated at the end of November, when an image began to circulate in which Dzafce appears making a gesture with his hands stretching out his eyes, an action historically offensive to people of Asian origin. The photograph was accompanied by the caption “eating with a Chinese”, which intensified the negative reaction. Social media users in China, Japan and South Korea called the publication a racial mockery and a show of disrespect towards the Asian community, particularly people of Chinese descent.
The repercussions were immediate and transcended the realm of the beauty pageant, generating a broader debate on racism, cultural representation and public accountability.
Given the magnitude of the reaction, Sarah Dzafce was stripped of her Miss Finland title. Subsequently, the model offered explanations and public apologies. She stated that the gesture was the result of a “severe headache” and claimed that a friend had added the text to the publication without her consent. Despite these clarifications, she acknowledged that the image caused a negative impact.
“In no way was it my intention… For me, one of the most important things is respect for people, their origins and their differences,” Dzafce wrote in a post on Instagram, where he admitted the discomfort generated and apologized to those who felt offended.
Reaction of the Finnish government to Miss Finland’s stripping
The controversy quickly reached the political arena. Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo spoke out forcefully, calling the gesture “thoughtless and stupid”. He also warned that the episode had been detrimental to the country’s international image.
“Yesterday, during a debate in Parliament, I said that this has caused harm to our country. Undoubtedly, it has,” Orpo told reporters after a summit with European countries held near the Russian border. “Personally, I do not accept racism in any form,” he added.
The situation escalated when two parliamentarians, Kaisa Garedew and Juho Eerola, posted images replicating the gesture made by Dzafce, in what was interpreted as an act of support. These actions generated further criticism. Eerola later apologized and said he felt that the former Miss Finland had received a “disproportionately severe punishment”.
The chairman of the government’s parliamentary group, Jukka Kopra, condemned these events, asserting that “this should not have happened” and calling the actions “contemptuous” and “inappropriate”. Prime Minister Orpo also expressed his confidence that Parliament would take the issue seriously enough.
Collaterally, the Finnish national airline, Finnair, was affected by the controversy, despite having no direct connection to the incident. The company received calls for a boycott on social networks, especially in Japan. As communications manager Päivyt Tallqvist explained to Yle radio station, the predominant message was: “Don’t fly to this country, don’t fly with Finnair”.
In response, the airline issued a statement on its Japanese X account clarifying that the statements and publications of some Members of Parliament did not represent its values, and reaffirmed its commitment to respect and diversity.
Finally, after Dzafce’s dismissal, the Miss Finland crown was awarded to Tara Lehtonen, second runner-up of the pageant. “I promise to wear this title with pride and deep respect,” the young Helsinki native expressed on social media.
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