Sari Dzaftse had to part with the title "Miss Finland" just three months after winning the 2025 competition. The pageant organizers decided to disqualify the girl amidst a loud scandal caused by an ambiguous photo on social media.
Sara Dzaftse. Photo: missfinlandofficial / Facebook
A wave of criticism, as reported by Onet.pl, was sparked by a photograph that appeared online in late November. In it, Sara Dzaftse demonstrates a gesture traditionally considered a mockery of East Asian facial features (narrowing eyes with fingers), with the caption "Eating with a Chinese person."
The organizers of the "Miss Finland" contest announced the stripping of the girl's title during a press conference on December 11 in Helsinki. The crown was passed to the first runner-up, Tara Lehtonen.
It is worth noting that the ex-winner herself has an international background. Her mother is Finnish, and her father is from Kosovo. However, her multicultural background did not protect the girl from a thoughtless act that cost her her career.
During the press conference, Dzaftse stated that the decision to strip her of the title was made jointly with the organizers. She apologized to the Asian community and everyone offended by her actions. However, the girl tried to justify herself, explaining the gesture by physical ailments (headache and eye pressure), and attributed the appearance of the controversial caption to her friend, who allegedly did it without her knowledge.
According to the publication, this is not the only incident involving the ex-Miss. Previously, she faced condemnation for a video from Finnair business class. "People express hatred when I'm in Finnair business class," she noted in the video, which many perceived as a display of contempt and arrogance. The video was later deleted, and Dzaftse published an apology on Instagram, stating her desire to learn from the situation.
The story took an unexpected turn in the political sphere. Juha Eerola, a member of the Finnish parliament and chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, posted a photo on Facebook parodying Dzaftse's gesture.
Answering a question from Finnish TV channel Yle, the politician explained his act as a joke and stated that he did not consider the gesture racist or offensive, although he admitted that some might perceive it that way. The MP emphasized that, in his opinion, it is not considered a universally recognized manifestation of racism.
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Comments
Можно подумать - большая цаца.