Miss Finland’s photo has sparked accusations of racism across Asia

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) — Finland’s government is facing mounting pressure and accusations of racism from several Asian countries after its representative at the 2025 Miss Universe pageant was seen pulling the corner of her eye in a photo — and some Finnish politicians posted their own photos repeating the gesture.

Sarah Dzafce lost her Miss Finland crown last week after a photo of Dzafce pulling the skin from the corner of her eye posted on social media went viral. The photo, and its caption reading “Eating with the Chinese”, was condemned by governments and commentators in Finland and across Asia as discriminatory against Asians.

Jafse, who won the title of Miss Finland in September, told the Finnish media that she is trying to reduce the problem of headaches. The Helsinki Times reported that she said a friend had shared the private image and wrote the caption without her input. Dzafce did not respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment Thursday.

Dzafce apologized on social media on December 8 and said it was never her intention to hurt anyone.

“The title of Miss Finland is not only a crown for me, but also a responsibility. I am responsible for how I speak, how I act and how my actions affect people,” she wrote in Finnish.

He added: “I take responsibility for my actions and will learn from it.”

A few days later, the Miss Finland organization revoked her status as Miss Finland 2025 – known in Finnish as Miss Suomi.

“The events of recent days have caused deep hurt, disappointment and concern in Finland and internationally – completely understandable,” the organization wrote on social media. “We are deeply sorry for the damage these incidents have caused. Especially to the Asian community, but also to everyone affected. Racism in any form is not acceptable.”

Controversy erupted as many right-wing Finnish politicians rallied around Dzafce after he lost his crown. The MPs of the ruling coalition have posted pictures of themselves with the skin pulled around their eyes.

Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo was forced to apologize to several countries, including Japan and South Korea, through statements in his own language posted on Finnish embassy social media accounts, sparking outrage across Asia.

“These posts do not reflect Finland’s values ​​of equality and inclusion,” Orpo’s statement said. “Racism and discrimination have no place in Finnish society. Our message to all our friends in Finland and abroad is that the government takes racism seriously and is committed to fighting this issue. Finland always aims to do better. Politicians have a responsibility to serve as an example in this regard.”

The Japanese government has contacted the Finnish Embassy in Tokyo expressing its concern.

The government’s top spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, said Japan hopes to maintain close ties with Helsinki.

“I understand that the Prime Minister of Finland has issued a statement deeply apologizing for the recent offensive posts by some MPs on social media,” Kihara said. “As the Japanese government, we express our concern and expect a proper response to the case through the local embassy.”

Finland is a major tourist destination for visitors from Asia, and some users on social platform X have called for a boycott of travel to Finland and the country’s largest airline, Finnair.

Piewit Talqvist, the airline’s senior vice president of communications, told Finnish broadcaster Yale that the scandal had hurt the company’s international operations, without providing details.