Photo of Miss Finland Triggers Racism Allegations and Controversy Across Asia

A photo of Miss Finland, Sarah Dzafce, performing a gesture perceived as racist has ignited outrage across Asia and backlash in Finland. The image, depicting Dzafce pulling the corners of her eyes with the caption “eating with a Chinese,” was widely condemned as discriminatory and culturally insensitive.

Dzafce, who won the Miss Finland crown in September, apologized publicly on December 8, stating her actions were unintentional and expressing regret for the hurt caused. She explained to Finnish media that she had been trying to relieve a headache and claimed a friend shared the photo with an inappropriate caption without her approval.

Following the public uproar, the Miss Finland Organization revoked Dzafce’s title, emphasizing that racism is unacceptable and expressing sorrow for the offense caused to the Asian community. The organization stated, “The events of recent days have caused deep hurt, disappointment, and concern both in Finland and internationally.”

The controversy intensified as some far-right Finnish politicians, including ruling coalition members, posted their own photos mimicking the offensive gesture. This fueled further criticism and diplomatic tensions between Finland and Asian countries.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo responded by issuing formal apologies to Japan, South Korea, and other affected nations. He underscored that “racism and discrimination have no place in Finnish society” and emphasized the government’s commitment to combating prejudice. His apology was posted in multiple languages on Finnish embassy social media platforms.

Japanese government spokesperson Minoru Kihara acknowledged the apology and expressed hope for continued close communication with Finland. Japan formally conveyed concerns via the Finnish embassy and expects an appropriate response to prevent similar incidents.

The incident also impacted Finland’s tourism sector. Calls for boycotts of Finnair and travel to Finland circulated on social media platforms such as X, citing disrespect toward Asian communities. Finnair’s senior vice president of communications, Päivyt Tallqvist, confirmed that the scandal has negatively affected the airline’s international business operations.

This controversy highlights the sensitivity surrounding racial depictions and the importance of cultural respect. It also underscores political responsibilities in maintaining inclusive behavior and the potential diplomatic fallout from social media actions.