The Miss Finland Organization has taken decisive action, stripping Sarah Dzafce of her national title following a major public backlash over a photograph depicting a racist gesture.
A Viral Image and Swift Consequences
In late November, an image of Sarah Dzafce began circulating widely online. The photo showed the 22-year-old smiling while pulling the corners of her eyes back into a 'slanted-eyes' gesture, widely condemned as a racist caricature of people of East Asian descent. The image, shared in a private group by a friend, included a caption in Finnish that translated to 'eating with a Chinese'.
The public reaction was swift and severe. Dzafce, who represented Finland at the Miss Universe contest just weeks prior, issued an apology on Instagram on December 8. She wrote in Finnish that the photo had 'caused ill will in many people' and stressed that respect for people's backgrounds was paramount to her.
However, the apology did not stem the tide. Just three days later, on December 11, the Miss Finland Organization announced Dzafce's removal. The title was officially transferred to the first runner-up, Tara Lehtonen.
Political Firestorm and Official Apologies
The controversy quickly escalated beyond the pageant world into Finnish politics. Juho Eerola, a politician from the populist Finns Party, posted a photo of himself making the same gesture on the social platform X in what he called a lighthearted show of support for Dzafce.
Eerola denied the gesture was racist, telling broadcaster Yle that his understanding was it 'is not generally considered racist.' He later apologized for his actions after significant criticism.
The incident reached the highest levels of government. On Wednesday, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo issued formal apologies through Finnish embassies in China, Japan, and South Korea. Orpo, whose National Coalition Party leads a coalition government that includes Eerola's Finns Party, stated the posts 'do not reflect Finland’s values of equality and inclusion.'
Explanations and Organizational Stance
At a press event on December 11, Dzafce offered another public apology, specifically addressing the Asian community. She offered an explanation for the photo, claiming the gesture was an unconscious reaction to a headache and pressure in her eyes during a meal. She also stated the offensive caption was added by a friend without her knowledge.
On Sunday, the Miss Finland Organization released a final statement clarifying its position. 'Miss Finland does not accept racism, discrimination or hate speech in any form,' the organization wrote. They expressed support for both Dzafce and the new titleholder, Lehtonen, while emphasizing that human dignity applies to all and expecting respectful public discourse.
The organization's decisive move to revoke the crown underscores the growing international intolerance for racially insensitive acts, even when those involved claim no malicious intent.
