Finland’s government is facing heavy pressure and accusations of racism after its representative to the 2025 Miss Universe pageant was seen pulling the corners of her eyes in a photo.
According to Associated Press, Sarah Dzafce lost her Miss Finland crown last week after a photo of Dzafce pulling the skin at the corners of her eyes posted on social media went viral late last month.
The photo, and its caption reading “eating with a Chinese,” was decried by governments and commentators across Finland and Asia as discrimination against Asians.
Dzafce, who won Miss Finland in September, has told Finnish media that she was trying to alleviate a headache.
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 publication’s request for comment.
She later posted an apology to social media said it was never her intention to hurt anyone.
“The Miss Finland title is not just a crown for me, but also a responsibility.
A responsibility for how I speak, how I act, and how my actions can affect people,” she wrote in Finnish.
Days later, the Miss Finland Organization revoked her status as Miss Finland 2025 known as Miss Suomi in Finnish.
