Sarah Dzafce, who represented Finland at the Miss Universe pageant, was dethroned after a social media post on December 11 featured her making an eye gesture commonly perceived as offensive to East Asian individuals. The post, captioned "eating with a Chinese," drew criticism from international audiences and led to responses from Finnish political figures, including the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament.
The Social Media Post and Its Aftermath
On December 11, Sarah Dzafce, 22, Finland's delegate to the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand, shared 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." This gesture is widely regarded as offensive to individuals of East Asian descent.
The post generated criticism in Japan, South Korea, and China. The backlash also extended to Finnair, Finland's national airline. Ms. Dzafce was subsequently dethroned from her title.
Ms. Dzafce's Explanation and Apology
Ms. Dzafce stated that the gesture was a reaction to a headache experienced during dinner. She also claimed, according to local Finnish media outlet Ilta-Sanomat, that a friend added the accompanying caption to the post without her authorization.
Following the criticism, Ms. Dzafce issued an apology for the image. She acknowledged that it had "caused ill will in many people" and clarified that this was not her intention. In an Instagram post, she further emphasized her commitment to "respect for people, their backgrounds and differences." The apology itself drew additional criticism, with some online users describing it as "insincere," partly due to its publication in Finnish.
Political Reactions in Finland
The incident prompted responses from political figures in Finland. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo described such gestures as "thoughtless and stupid," remarking that the ensuing situation was "damaging" to the country.
Separately, two members of the Finnish Parliament from the Finns Party, Juho Eerola and Kaisa Garedew, posted images of themselves replicating Ms. Dzafce's gesture. They stated their intention was to show support for her. Both posts were later removed after drawing 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 Members of Parliament as "childish," stressing that lawmakers are expected to demonstrate proper conduct. Local media reported that the Finns Party is evaluating potential sanctions for the two MPs in response to their actions.