The organizers of the 'Miss Finland' contest stripped 22-year-old Sara Dzafche of her title after a scandal involving a racist gesture in a photograph published on social media.
The issue concerns a photo in which Dzafche pulls the corners of her eyes with her fingers - a gesture considered offensive towards Asians. The photo was accompanied by a caption in Finnish that translates to "eating with a Chinese person." The image was posted on the anonymous German app Jodel.
According to Helsinki Times, the photo was published by a friend of Dzafche, who allegedly added the caption without her knowledge. The beauty queen initially claimed that in the photo she was merely rubbing her temples due to a severe headache.
Despite her explanations, the gesture sparked a wave of criticism from the public and the Asian community. On Thursday, the organization "Miss Finland" officially announced the revocation of her title.
"The title of 'Miss Finland' held by Sara Dzafche has been revoked as of today. This decision is not related to the value of a person as an individual, but concerns responsibility. The national and international representative role is inseparable from responsibility," the statement published on Instagram said.
The contest owners - the company Finnartist Oy - emphasized that for over 90 years, the contest embodies Finnish values: respect, equality, responsibility, and human dignity.
"The published content was offensive, harmful, and completely contrary to the values of the 'Miss Finland' contest. We deeply regret the pain caused - especially to the Asian community. Racism is unacceptable in any form," the organizers stated.
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