Specifically, the Miss Finland organizers announced their decision to strip Sarah Dzafce of her title after an old photo of the beauty queen was widely shared.
In this image, the beauty queen is allegedly making a gesture of pulling her eyes sideways – an act considered racist towards Asians.
The photo led to Sarah Dzafce being stripped of her Miss Finland 2025 crown (Photo: News).
The photo quickly sparked public outrage. Under pressure from the public, Sarah Dzafce explained that she was simply rubbing her temples and stretching her eyes due to a headache. However, this explanation failed to convince the public.
Sarah Dzafce later publicly apologized, admitting her actions were inappropriate and hurtful. However, the Miss Finland organizers maintained they would not tolerate any racist or discriminatory behavior and decided to strip Sarah Dzafce of her crown just three months after her coronation.
The organizers also apologized to the public and the communities affected by the incident. First runner-up Tara Lehtonen was awarded the title of Miss Finland 2025 and will represent Finland in future international beauty pageants.
Beauty queen Sarah Dzafce expressed her regret at the press conference where she returned her crown on December 12 (Photo: News).
On December 12th, at an official press conference, Sarah Dzafce expressed her remorse: "I sincerely apologize to everyone who was offended and hurt by my actions on social media."
The beauty queen also said she would be taking a break from social media to reflect and focus on her mental health: "I will think much more carefully before posting anything in the future."
Sarah Dzafce was crowned Miss Finland 2025 last September. At the press conference, she and her successor, Tara Lehtonen, appeared together and hugged as she handed over the crown. Lehtonen said that their relationship remains friendly and they plan to stay in touch.
New Miss Finland Tara Lehtonen (left) receives the crown from Sarah Dzafce (Photo: AP).
The newly crowned Miss Finland 2025, Tara Lehtonen (25 years old), admitted she was surprised by the organizers' decision: "I knew about the controversy, but I didn't expect it to escalate to this extent. I was surprised to receive the notification that I had been chosen."
This is the first time since 2011 that the Miss Finland title has changed hands within the reigning year. Previously, Miss Pia Lambberg abdicated in 2011 due to conflicts with the organizers.
Sarah Dzafce's case has become a hot topic of debate on social media. Many opinions support the organizers' decision, arguing that a beauty queen should not only represent beauty but also be a role model in terms of character, social awareness, and civic responsibility in the age of social media.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giai-tri/buc-anh-khien-hoa-hau-phan-lan-2025-bi-tuoc-vuong-mien-20251213152107996.htm
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