US EditionA photo of Miss Finland sparks racist accusations and furor across Asia
Sarah Dzafce's photo mocking East Asians sparked diplomatic outcry; far-right MPs echoed the gesture, prompting official apologies and boycott calls against Finland and Finnair.
- Calls to boycott Finnair have arisen after a photo of Miss Finland sparked accusations of racism, as the airline has operated routes to Japan for over 40 years.
- Prime Minister Petteri Orpo criticized the actions of some MPs as thoughtless and damaging to the country, stating he has a zero tolerance policy against racism.
- Riikka Purra, the leader of the Finns Party, defended the photo and did not condemn it, claiming it showed support for Dzafce and critiquing the definition of racism.
- Jukka Kopra, chair of the National Coalition Party's parliamentary group, condemned the inappropriate actions of elected officials, stating they harm Finland's reputation.
26 Articles
26 Articles
The former Miss Finland winner loses her title because of a controversial gesture. As politicians show similar gestures, Japan demands clear consequences and measures against discrimination.
The Conservative Prime Minister apologised to China, Japan and South Korea for the slipping of the extreme right-wing government coalition party. Three elected officials had shown their support for Miss Finland, who lost her crown after being photographed in a blindfold.
Channel News Asia
einnews.comA photo of Miss Finland sparks racist accusations and furore across Asia
Sarah Dzafce lost her Miss Finland crown last week after a photo posted on social media of her pulling the skin at the corners of her eyes went viral late last month.
Sarah Dzafce lost her crown last week after a photo of her, in which she appears pulling the skin in the corners of her eyes
The government of Finland faces growing international pressure and accusations of racism from several Asian countries, after its representative for the Miss Universe 2025 pageant was photographed making a gesture considered offensive to Asian people, while some Finnish politicians replicated the action on social media. Sarah Dzafce lost her crown of Miss Finland last week after she went viral in an image in which she appears stretching the skin …
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