Miss Finland Sparks Racism Row From Asia with Eye-Squinting Photo, PM Apologises | Firstpost America

A single photograph of Finland’s Miss Universe contestant, Sarah Dzafce, pulling the corners of her eyes with a caption referencing “eating with a Chinese,” sparked international outrage across China, Japan, and South Korea last month. The gesture, deemed racist, led to Dzafce losing her crown. The controversy escalated when Finnish lawmakers replicated the gesture online, prompting public backlash and straining Finland’s global reputation. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo intervened, calling the actions “thoughtless” and apologising directly to the affected countries. Amid the firestorm, Japanese collaborations stalled, and Finnair reported reputational damage.