A photo posted online by Finland’s delegate to last month’s Miss Universe pageant in Thailand has stirred controversy and led to significant backlash across Asia and within Finland. Sarah Dzafce, 22, was crowned Miss Finland 2024 and represented the country at the global competition. She has now been stripped of her title after an image surfaced showing her pulling the corners of her eyes, a gesture widely considered offensive to East Asians.
The image, posted on December 11, included a caption that read, “eating with a Chinese.” The post quickly gained attention and sparked anger in China, Japan, South Korea, and other Asian countries. Many saw the gesture as mocking Asian facial features, something that has historically been used in a racist manner.
GIVE SARAH BACK THE CROWN!
Sarah Dzafce was this year’s Miss Finland. She posted a photo with slanted eyes, which got her expelled from Miss Universe in Thailand and punished by the loss of the Miss Finland title. That she was punished in her homeland is sick! pic.twitter.com/5xkG6qMuYQ— EuroPatriot
GIVE SARAH BACK THE CROWN! 
(@HomelandEurope) Following the backlash, Dzafce claimed the pose was a reaction to a headache she was experiencing during dinner and said the caption was added by someone else without her permission. According to Finnish tabloid Ilta-Sanomat, Dzafce stated that a friend wrote the caption before the photo was uploaded.
Dzafce apologized on Instagram, writing, “That was not my intention in any way… One of the most important things for me is respect for people, their backgrounds and differences.” However, the apology was written in Finnish and was seen by some as lacking sincerity. One online commenter responded, “That was uncalled for, Asian people didn’t do anything to you… We [are] still disappointed in you.”
Miss Finland Sarah Dzafce stripped of crown over racist gesture in social media post https://t.co/ZwpcEhND9N pic.twitter.com/jpCuKShMWE
Should Sarah Dzafce regain her title as Miss Finland?— New York Post (@nypost) December 13, 2025
The situation gained political attention as well. Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called the photo “thoughtless and stupid,” and said the controversy had hurt the country’s image abroad. The fallout even reached Finland’s national airline, Finnair, which faced calls for a tourist boycott. The company issued a public statement in Japanese, saying that the actions and posts of some Finnish politicians do not reflect the airline’s values and that it welcomes people from all backgrounds with respect.
Further controversy emerged when two right-wing members of Finland’s Parliament, Juho Eerola and Kaisa Garedew, posted their own photos imitating Dzafce’s gesture in a show of support. The images were later deleted after more backlash. Eerola apologized and said he believed Dzafce’s punishment had been too harsh. Prime Minister Orpo responded by calling the lawmakers’ actions “childish” and said that politicians should behave as role models. Reports indicate that the Finns Party, to which the MPs belong, is discussing whether the two should face any disciplinary action.
The Miss Finland Organization responded by revoking Dzafce’s title. In a statement, it said that the role of Miss Finland comes with the responsibility to respect all people, regardless of their background or appearance. The organization called the decision to remove her a “difficult but necessary” one and added, “Racism is never acceptable in any form.”
The Finnish embassy in Japan confirmed it had received many messages about the issue and acknowledged that racism is still a problem in Finland. A Japanese resident living in Finland started a petition asking the government to investigate anti-Asian discrimination, which had collected more than 7,000 signatures by Sunday evening, according to Asahi Shimbun.
This controversy follows a Miss Universe pageant that already faced multiple challenges, including walkouts and accusations of rigging. The incident involving Dzafce has now become a focal point for broader discussions about racism, cultural respect, and the behavior expected from public figures. Finnish officials and organizations have said they will continue working to address discrimination and rebuild trust.
