§  Miss Finland Sarah Dzafce stripped of title after racist “slanted-eyes” photo goes viral

§  Finnair faces boycott in Asia. Read full scandal report

§  A Beauty Queen’s Fall from Grace

Miss Finland racist photo viral: In a stunning fall from grace that has ignited a firestorm across social media, Miss Finland Sarah Dzafce has been officially stripped of her title. The controversy erupted after a photo went viral showing the 22-year-old beauty queen making a “slanted-eyes” gesture—a pose widely recognized as a racist caricature of East Asian people.

The image, posted to her Instagram story on December 11, featured the offensive pose accompanied by the caption: “eating with a Chinese.”

What started as a thoughtless social media post has now snowballed into a diplomatic and economic crisis for Finland. The backlash has spread far beyond Instagram, triggering outrage in Japan, South Korea and China and even leading to calls for a boycott of the country’s national airline, Finnair.

Details & Context: The “Headache” Defense

The incident occurred shortly after Dzafce represented Finland at the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand—an event already marred by controversy and allegations of rigging. However, the real drama followed her home.

The Explanation
Facing immediate backlash, Dzafce attempted to explain her actions. Speaking to the local tabloid Ilta-Sanomat, she claimed the gesture was not racist but merely a reaction to a “headache” she was experiencing during dinner. regarding the offensive caption, she shifted the blame, stating that a friend had posted the text without her consent.

The “Insincere” Apology
Dzafce issued an apology on Instagram, writing
“One of the most important things for me is respect for people, their backgrounds and differences. That was not my intention in any way.”

However, the apology fueled the fire rather than extinguishing it. Critics pointed out that the statement was written entirely in Finnish, making it inaccessible to the very Asian communities she had insulted.
“Not sure Chinese outside of Finland would understand it. Such a considerate and sincere apology,” one user mocked.
Another commented: “That was uncalled for, Asian people didn’t do anything to you... We are still disappointed in you.”

Political Firestorm: MPs Mimic the Gesture

Just when it seemed the situation couldn’t get worse, politics entered the chat. Two right-wing Members of Parliament (MPs), Juho Eerola and Kaisa Garedew, posted photos of themselves mimicking Dzafce’s “slanted-eyes” gesture in a misguided show of solidarity.

This move was met with widespread condemnation. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo blasted the MPs’ actions as “childish,” stating that lawmakers should set a better example. While the posts were eventually deleted and apologies issued, the damage was done. Eerola later claimed he felt the beauty queen was receiving “disproportionately harsh punishment,” but the Finns Party is now deliberating potential sanctions against them.

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Impact Analysis: Finnair and Tourism in Danger

The ripple effects of this scandal have hit the corporate sector hard. Finnair, Finland’s flag carrier, found itself in the crosshairs of angry travelers from East Asia. Calls to #BoycottFinland and #BoycottFinnair began trending on X (formerly Twitter) and Asian social media platforms.

Forced to damage control, Finnair issued a statement on its Japanese X account:
“The statements or posts mentioned by some Finnish members of parliament do not represent the values of Finnair. As an airline supported by employees from diverse backgrounds and customers around the world, we promise to welcome everyone with respect.”

The Diplomatic Fallout

·       Japan: A petition launched by a Japanese resident in Finland calling for an investigation into anti-Asian discrimination has gathered over 7,000 signatures.

·       Embassy Reaction: The Finnish embassy in Japan admitted receiving “numerous opinions” and acknowledged that “Racism remains a challenge in Finnish society.”

The Decision: “Difficult But Necessary”

The Miss Finland Organisation had no choice but to act. In a decisive move, they stripped Dzafce of her crown, stating that a beauty queen must be a role model for all.

“Miss Finland holds a position of role-model status, which requires respecting all people regardless of their origin, background or appearance. We are deeply sorry for the harm these events have caused. Especially to the Asian community... Racism is never acceptable in any form.”

Key Facts Summary

·       Person: Sarah Dzafce (Miss Finland)

·       Action: Posted “slanted-eyes” photo with caption “eating with a Chinese”

·       Consequence: Dethroned/Stripped of title

·       Political Fallout: Finnish MPs mimicked the racist gesture

·       Corporate Impact: Finnair facing boycott threats

·       Regions Affected: Japan, China, South Korea, Finland

·       Official Stance: Prime Minister calls it “stupid and damaging”

Conclusion: A Lesson in the Digital Age

Sarah Dzafce’s story serves as a brutal reminder of the power of social media and the zero-tolerance policy for racism in the modern world. A single “joke” can end a career, damage a national brand and spark a diplomatic incident.

While Dzafce blames a headache and a friend, the internet has passed its verdict. In 2025, ignorance is no longer a valid defense. As Finland tries to repair its image in East Asia, the former Miss Finland is left to pick up the pieces of a reputation shattered by a split-second decision.

Call to Action (CTA)

Was the punishment fair.? Do you think stripping her title was the right move, or was it “disproportionately harsh” as the MPs claimed.?

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