Miss Finland'S Crown Stripped: A Scandalous Fall From Grace

Finland's Beauty Queen Scandal

The Miss Universe stage is no stranger to drama, and this time, Finland's Sarah Dzafce finds herself at the center. The 22-year-old was stripped of her Miss Finland (Miss Suomi) title after a racially insensitive social media post surfaced, causing an uproar both at home and abroad.

Dzafce's post, which included a photo of her stretching the corners of her eyes with the caption "kiinalaisenkaa syömäs" ("eating with a Chinese person"), was deemed offensive and contrary to the values upheld by the Miss Finland pageant. The contest organizers took swift action, removing her crown for breaching a fundamental rule against racism.

“This decision is not about a person's human worth, but about responsibility,” stated the Miss Finlandia organization, highlighting the importance of accountability at a national and international level.

Public Reaction and Dzafce's Defense

The backlash was immediate, with disappointment and outrage echoing across Finland and beyond. Dzafce attempted to defend her actions, attributing the gesture to a "severe headache" and claiming she was merely rubbing her temples. However, her explanation fell flat, with the Finnish media and public perceiving it as an inadequate excuse.

The Helsinki Times reported that the controversial image was shared on an anonymous German network by a friend of Dzafce's, allegedly without her consent. Despite this, the damage was done, and Dzafce took to social media to issue a public apology.

“I fully understand that my actions have caused discomfort to many people and I am deeply sorry for that. I want to apologize, especially to those who have been personally affected by this situation. That was not my intention in any way,” Dzafce expressed in her apology.

A New Reign Begins

As the dust settles, the Miss Finland crown has now been passed to Tara Lehtonen, the 25-year-old first runner-up from last year's pageant. While Lehtonen steps into her new role, she will not compete in the Miss Universe 2026 pageant, marking a new chapter for the Finnish beauty scene.

The scandal has left a mark on the Miss Finland organization, which expressed regret over the incident and the negative perception it cast on the country. The organization's spokesperson emphasized the need to uphold the values of respect and inclusivity, ensuring such incidents do not recur in the future.