The delegate representing Finland at the recent Miss Universe pageant, Sarah Dzafce, generated controversy following the publication of a photograph on social media. The image depicted Ms. Dzafce pulling the corners of her eyes, accompanied by a caption stating "eating with a Chinese." The gesture is widely considered offensive to individuals of East Asian descent.
The photograph, uploaded on December 11, prompted significant criticism across Japan, South Korea, and China. This backlash extended to Finnair, Finland's national airline. Ms. Dzafce, aged 22, was subsequently dethroned from her title.
In Finland, the controversy drew responses from political figures. On Monday, the Finnish Prime Minister described such gestures as "thoughtless and stupid," remarking that the ensuing controversy was "damaging" to the country.
Ms. Dzafce provided an explanation for the photo, stating that the gesture was a reaction to a headache experienced during dinner. She claimed a friend added the accompanying caption to the post without her authorization, according to local Finnish media outlet Ilta-Sanomat. Ms. Dzafce issued an apology for the image, acknowledging that it had "caused ill will in many people" and clarifying that this was not her intention. She emphasized her commitment to "respect for people, their backgrounds and differences" in an Instagram post.
The apology itself faced criticism, with some online users deeming it "insincere" due to its publication in Finnish. Comments suggested that Chinese individuals outside of Finland might not understand the apology.
Two members of the Finnish parliament from the right-wing Finns Party, Juho Eerola and Kaisa Garedew, posted images of themselves replicating Ms. Dzafce's gesture in what they described as support for her. These posts were later removed after public criticism. Mr. Eerola subsequently apologized, indicating his belief that Ms. Dzafce had received "disproportionately harsh punishment."
Prime Minister Orpo condemned the actions of the MPs as "childish," stressing that lawmakers are expected to demonstrate proper conduct. Local media reported that the Finns Party is currently evaluating potential sanctions for the two MPs in response to their actions.