Finland’s prime minister has formally apologized to Asian nations after a racism scandal involving the former Miss Finland escalated into a broader political controversy.
In a statement distributed on Wednesday, December 17, through Finnish embassies in Japan, China, and South Korea, and obtained by NBC News, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo addressed offensive social media posts tied to both a former beauty queen and members of parliament. Orpo said the actions in question directly conflicted with Finland’s values.
“The posts run counter to the values of equality and inclusion that Finland upholds,” Orpo said. “Racism and discrimination have no place in Finnish society.”
He added that the Finnish government takes racial discrimination seriously and is committed to addressing it, both domestically and internationally.
Dzafce posted a photo on social media showing her pulling the corners of her eyes, accompanied by a caption that translates to “eating with a Chinese person.” The image was widely interpreted as mocking East Asian features and quickly drew condemnation online.
Dzafce, who is not of Asian descent, deleted the post and later apologized. “One of the most important things for me is respect for people, their backgrounds and differences,” she wrote in a statement shared on Instagram. “I take responsibility for my actions and will learn from this.”
Despite the apology, the Miss Finland organization stripped Dzafce of her title last week. In its own statement, the organization said the content she shared was “offensive, harmful, and completely against the values” of the pageant. “The events of recent days have caused deep hurt, disappointment, and concern both in Finland and internationally,” the statement read.
The situation intensified after Dzafce lost her crown, when several lawmakers from the far-right Finns Party posted photos of themselves making the same eye-pulling gesture, which appeared to be a show of support. Those posts prompted international criticism and led directly to Prime Minister Orpo’s apology.
Following Dzafce’s removal, first runner-up Tara Lehtonen was named the new Miss Finland. Lehtonen, who is from Helsinki, said she accepted the title with humility and awareness of the moment. “I promise to carry this title with pride and deep respect,” she wrote on social media.