A photo of Sarah Dzafce, the titleholder of Miss Finland 2025, has ignited widespread accusations of racism and drawn significant international backlash from several Asian countries after she was seen making a gesture interpreted as offensive toward Asians. The incident has escalated into a broader political controversy involving government figures and diplomatic protests.
The photograph, which circulated on social media in late November, shows Dzafce pulling the corners of her eyes with her fingers in a pose widely seen as mimicking East Asian features. The original caption on the image — “eating with a Chinese” — was condemned as discriminatory and hurtful by commentators and government officials in Finland and across Asia.
Dzafce, who won the Miss Finland title in September and subsequently competed in the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, initially offered an explanation that she had been alleviating discomfort from a headache and that a friend added the caption. She later issued a public apology on Dec. 8, acknowledging that her actions had caused pain and emphasizing that representing Finland carried a responsibility she did not intend to violate.
Despite the apology, the Miss Finland Organization revoked her crown on Dec. 11, 2025, citing the deep hurt and concern caused both domestically and internationally. The organization stressed that racism and discrimination “have no place” in its values and that the decision was grounded in the responsibilities associated with the role rather than a judgment on her worth as a person. Runner-up Tara Lehtonen was subsequently named the new Miss Finland 2025.
The situation intensified when several Finns Party politicians — members of Finland’s ruling coalition — posted their own images imitating the gesture in an apparent show of support for Dzafce. Those posts drew further criticism and were described as racist and irresponsible by other political figures and critics within Finland. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo intervened directly, issuing formal apologies to Japan, China, and South Korea through Finnish embassy channels and reaffirming Finland’s commitment to inclusion and equality.
The diplomatic implications have been significant. Japan’s government publicly conveyed concerns to the Finnish embassy in Tokyo, expressing expectations for an appropriate response after the offensive social media posts by Finnish politicians. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara underscored the importance of maintaining strong communication and mutual respect between nations.
In addition to political fallout, there have been calls on social platforms for boycotts of travel to Finland and of Finnish companies such as Finnair, reflecting broader public sentiment in parts of Asia. Finnish media and commentators have highlighted the importance of addressing racism not just at the level of individuals but within the broader cultural and political discourse.
