Finland’s government is under intense scrutiny and facing allegations of racism from several Asian nations following an incident involving its representative at the 2025 Miss Universe pageant. The controversy stemmed from a photo showing Sarah Dzafce, former Miss Finland, pulling the corners of her eyes, which went viral on social media, leading to her dethronement. The image, accompanied by a caption deemed offensive, sparked outrage in both Finland and Asia, with accusations of discrimination against Asians.
Dzafce explained to Finnish media that the photo was taken out of context, as she was trying to relieve a headache, and claimed the caption was added by a friend without her consent. Despite issuing a public apology on social media, stating she never intended to harm anyone, she faced repercussions from the Miss Finland Organization, which stripped her of the Miss Finland 2025 title.
In response to the escalating situation, far-right Finnish politicians came to Dzafce’s defense by posting their own photos mimicking the gesture, further fueling the controversy. Subsequently, the organization expressed regret for the events and denounced racism in any form, particularly acknowledging the hurt caused to the Asian community.
The uproar extended to Asia, prompting Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to issue apologies to countries like Japan and South Korea through diplomatic channels. Orpo emphasized Finland’s commitment to equality and inclusion, condemning racism and discrimination and stressing the government’s dedication to combating such issues.
As the backlash intensified, Japan raised concerns with the Finnish embassy in Tokyo, seeking reassurance and appropriate measures in response to the incident. Calls for a travel boycott to Finland emerged, impacting the tourism industry, with some advocating avoiding travel to Finland and boycotting Finnair, the nation’s largest airline. This scandal has reportedly affected Finnair’s international operations, as confirmed by Päivyt Tallqvist, the airline’s senior vice president of communications, without specifying the extent of the impact.
