Refer China: Miss Finland Loses Her Crown due to Anti-Chinese Racism Scandal

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Miss Finland Loses Her Crown due to Anti-Chinese Racism Scandal

Sarah Dzafce apologised after a photo surfaced of her making a gesture seen as derogatory to Asian people

The reigning Miss Finland, Sarah Dzafce, has lost her title and crown due to a racism scandal, the organisers of the beauty pageant announced.

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They said at a press conference on Thursday that they accepted no form of racism or discriminatory behaviour and apologised for the incident in a statement.

Tara Lehtonen, who finished in second place in the competition, has already been chosen as the new Miss Finland.

"I promise to carry this title with pride and deep respect," the woman from Helsinki pledged on social media.

Dzafce was crowned Miss Finland in September.

According to the broadcaster Yle, she recently faced a backlash on social media after a questionable photo of her appeared on an online platform.

In the photo, the young woman is seen pulling her eyes with her fingers.

She accompanied it with a caption that, according to Yle, meant something like "going to eat with a Chinese person".

The gesture was widely interpreted as derogatory to Asian people.

Dzafce initially defended the gesture by saying she was merely massaging her temples and widening her eyes due to "severe headaches".

However, at the press conference, she apologised for the incident, particularly to Asian people.

"Racism is in no way acceptable," she said.

She also announced she would take a break from social media.

"I'll think 10 times before posting anything in future," she told reporters. "I need time to focus on my well-being."

Dzafce and Lehtonen appeared together at the press event and were seen embracing before the handover. Lehtonen said their relationship remained friendly and they planned to stay in contact.

Lehtonen, 25, expressed surprise at the news. "I was aware of the controversy but didn't expect it to escalate like this," she said.

The call asking her to accept the title came unexpectedly when she was at work.

"I had to pause for a moment to process the question," she said. "I wasn't prepared for it."

She described her own social media use as "neutral", and said she did not believe a similar situation would occur with her.

This is the first time since 2011 that a Miss Finland title has changed hands during the reigning year. Pia Lamberg resigned that year due to dissatisfaction with the organisation. Her title passed to first runner-up Sara Sieppi.

Source: SCMP