{"id":429894,"date":"2025-12-15T13:03:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T12:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/?p=429894"},"modified":"2025-12-15T13:03:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T12:03:56","slug":"accusee-racisme-miss-finlande-destituee-titre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/accused-of-racism-miss-finland-stripped-of-her-title-429894","title":{"rendered":"Accused of racism, Miss Finland is stripped of her title"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Miss Finland 2025 crown, meant to symbolize elegance and openness, has become a symbol of controversy. Sarah Dzafce, the newly crowned winner, was recently stripped of her title after a photo deemed racist towards Asians was circulated online. Although she apologized to China and the Asian community, the affair continues to shake Finnish public opinion, even reaching the heart of the political world.<\/p>\n<h2> One gesture and one photo too many<\/h2>\n<p> In late November, a photo circulating on social media showed Sarah Dzafce making the &quot;slanted eyes&quot; gesture, accompanied by a caption in Finnish that translated as <em>&quot;eating with a Chinese person.&quot;<\/em> Quickly accused of racist behavior, the young woman explained that the photo had initially been posted by a friend in a private group and that she was suffering from a migraine at the time. Sarah Dzafce insisted that she had not chosen the caption for the photo.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these explanations, the controversy grew. On Instagram, users denounced it as &quot;a hollow excuse&quot; and &quot;a lack of sincerity.&quot; Many demanded that she relinquish her crown, arguing that &quot;this gesture tarnished Finland&#39;s image&quot; in a global context where sensitivity to racial discrimination is increasingly heightened.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"> \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddee Kosovo-origin Miss Finland was stripped of her title after she was seen making a racist gesture toward Asians.<\/p>\n<p> The picture was posted with the caption: &quot;When you have to dine out with a Chinese.&quot; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FQVzr1oqhM\">pic.twitter.com\/FQVzr1oqhM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 kos_data (@kos_data) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kos_data\/status\/1999460311699759297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 12, 2025<\/a> <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2> Insufficient apologies to quell the controversy<\/h2>\n<p> Faced with public pressure, the Miss Finland pageant announced on December 11, 2025, the official withdrawal of Sarah Dzafce&#39;s title. The organization stated in a press release that <em>it &quot;does not tolerate any discriminatory behavior&quot;<\/em> and offered its apologies <em>&quot;to all those hurt by the incident.&quot;<\/em> At a press conference, Sarah Dzafce apologized in three languages\u2014Finnish, English, and Chinese\u2014saying, <em>&quot;Sorry, China.&quot;<\/em> The pageant organizers awarded the title to Tara Lehtonen, the first runner-up. Despite this symbolic decision, the controversy continued unabated.<\/p>\n<h2> Political figures are fueling the controversy<\/h2>\n<p> The affair even took a political turn when several members of the nationalist Finns Party (Perussuomalaiset) \u2013 Juho Eerola, Kaisa Garedew, and MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen \u2013 posted photos of themselves making the same controversial gesture. This provocation sparked outrage. Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz called their behavior <em>&quot;irresponsible, childish, and stupid,&quot;<\/em> adding that <em>&quot;this gesture clearly offends people.&quot;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Criticism also came from Prime Minister Petteri Orpo&#39;s party, where MP Pia Kauma stated that <em>&quot;swift action is needed to prevent any normalization of racism within institutions.&quot;<\/em> An inter-party meeting is planned to discuss the issue.<\/p>\n<p>In short, what was meant to remain an individual incident has turned into a public relations crisis for Finland, sparking a profound debate on public responsibility and tolerance. The Sarah Dzafce affair transcends the realm of beauty pageants; it raises societal questions about the line between clumsiness and racism, and about how public figures and elected officials should embody respect in a globalized world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Miss Finland 2025 crown, meant to symbolize elegance and openness, has become a symbol of controversy. Sarah...","protected":false},"author":8394,"featured_media":429895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[307],"tags":[97759],"class_list":["post-429894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-people","tag-news"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Accusee-de-racisme-Miss-Finlande-est-destituee-de-son-titre-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Accusee-de-racisme-Miss-Finlande-est-destituee-de-son-titre-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Accusee-de-racisme-Miss-Finlande-est-destituee-de-son-titre.jpg","author":{"name":"L\u00e9a Michel","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1721220128171-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":307,"name":"Celebrities","slug":"people","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":307,"taxonomy":"category","description":"<p>The Celebrities section of The Body Optimist follows celebrity news from a specific angle: what stars\u2019 public statements reveal about bodies, mental health, aging and beauty standards. Actresses, singers, models and athletes open up about their insecurities, their battles and their refusal of rigid beauty rules, stories that echo questions many women ask themselves.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Celebrities section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bodies and body shaming<\/strong>: stars criticized for their weight, figure or face, and how they respond to the comments.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mental health<\/strong>: eating disorders, body dysmorphia and anxiety, as when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/after-suffering-from-body-dysmorphia-actress-lana-condor-returns-to-the-pressure-related-to-appearance-446438\">Lana Condor spoke about body dysmorphia and the pressure to look a certain way<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Aging and unfiltered beauty<\/strong>: growing older in the spotlight, gray hair, makeup-free faces and the pressure to stay young forever.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Motherhood and life choices<\/strong>: pregnancy, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/after-criticism-of-her-appearance-the-model-confides-in-her-postpartum-body-446593\">postpartum body<\/a> under public scrutiny and the choice not to have children.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Representation and diversity<\/strong>: plus-size artists, LGBTQIA+ public figures and athletes who challenge conventional ideas of femininity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Celebrity style<\/strong>: red carpet and everyday looks as inspiration to adapt to your own body type.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How can you follow celebrity news without comparing yourself?<\/h2>\n<p>Following celebrities without comparing yourself means remembering that their images are the result of professional work: lighting, makeup, styling, picking the best shots and sometimes retouching. A few habits help:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Focus on what the person says or creates rather than on their weight or age.<\/li>\n<li>Notice which accounts make you feel uneasy and clean up your feed.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid commenting on celebrities\u2019 bodies, even to compliment them: praising weight loss reinforces the very norm that causes harm.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t treat a makeup-free face as a feat, as our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\/applauding-celebrities-posing-without-makeup-heres-why-we-need-to-stop-431912\">why we should stop applauding stars who pose without makeup<\/a> explains.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Our approach: listening to what stars say about their bodies<\/h2>\n<p>Celebrity news is often fleeting. What interests us are the moments when a public figure talks about their body, their health or the pressures they face, because these stories resonate with our readers\u2019 daily lives. We aim to share these voices rather than judge anyone\u2019s figure, and to place each story in a broader context: the pressure to be thin, ageism and sexism in the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n<h2>Articles to start with<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Actress Madhuri Dixit opens up about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/actress-madhuri-dixit-criticized-for-her-weight-reveals-she-has-suffered-from-body-shaming-444560\">the body shaming she faced over her weight<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>An actress told she wasn\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/deemed-not-attractive-enough-leading-role-actress-denounces-beauty-standards-446807\">\u201cattractive enough\u201d for a lead role<\/a> calls out beauty standards in the film industry.<\/li>\n<li>Heidi Klum talks candidly about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/heidi-klum-discusses-weight-gain-related-to-menopause-435490\">weight gain during menopause<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Olivia Wilde <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/actress-olivia-wilde-famous-benefits-age-446182\">celebrates the upside of getting older<\/a>, pushing back against the pressure to stay young.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What is body shaming?<\/h3>\n<p>Body shaming means criticizing, mocking or judging someone based on their physical appearance: weight, height, skin, body hair, age or facial features. Public figures are especially exposed because every photo of them is publicly commented on, but it affects everyone, online and in everyday life.<\/p>\n<h3>What is body dysmorphia?<\/h3>\n<p>Body dysmorphic disorder, often called body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition marked by an excessive preoccupation with a perceived flaw in one\u2019s appearance that is minor or invisible to others. It can cause intense distress and repetitive behaviors, such as constantly checking one\u2019s reflection. Only a health professional can diagnose it and recommend appropriate support.<\/p>\n<h3>Why do celebrities\u2019 stories about their bodies matter?<\/h3>\n<p>When a widely followed public figure talks about insecurities, an eating disorder or criticism of their weight, they bring visibility to an experience that is often lived in shame. These stories can help others speak up and encourage them to seek help. They remain personal accounts, however, and are no substitute for advice from a health professional.<\/p>\n<p>Want to go further? Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/culture\">Culture<\/a> section analyzes movies, TV and music through the lens of representation, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\">Society<\/a> section looks at beauty standards and discrimination, and our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\">Body positive<\/a> section supports you on the road to accepting your body.<\/p>","parent":0,"count":2802,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":307,"category_count":2802,"category_description":"<p>The Celebrities section of The Body Optimist follows celebrity news from a specific angle: what stars\u2019 public statements reveal about bodies, mental health, aging and beauty standards. Actresses, singers, models and athletes open up about their insecurities, their battles and their refusal of rigid beauty rules, stories that echo questions many women ask themselves.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Celebrities section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bodies and body shaming<\/strong>: stars criticized for their weight, figure or face, and how they respond to the comments.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mental health<\/strong>: eating disorders, body dysmorphia and anxiety, as when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/after-suffering-from-body-dysmorphia-actress-lana-condor-returns-to-the-pressure-related-to-appearance-446438\">Lana Condor spoke about body dysmorphia and the pressure to look a certain way<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Aging and unfiltered beauty<\/strong>: growing older in the spotlight, gray hair, makeup-free faces and the pressure to stay young forever.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Motherhood and life choices<\/strong>: pregnancy, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/after-criticism-of-her-appearance-the-model-confides-in-her-postpartum-body-446593\">postpartum body<\/a> under public scrutiny and the choice not to have children.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Representation and diversity<\/strong>: plus-size artists, LGBTQIA+ public figures and athletes who challenge conventional ideas of femininity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Celebrity style<\/strong>: red carpet and everyday looks as inspiration to adapt to your own body type.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How can you follow celebrity news without comparing yourself?<\/h2>\n<p>Following celebrities without comparing yourself means remembering that their images are the result of professional work: lighting, makeup, styling, picking the best shots and sometimes retouching. A few habits help:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Focus on what the person says or creates rather than on their weight or age.<\/li>\n<li>Notice which accounts make you feel uneasy and clean up your feed.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid commenting on celebrities\u2019 bodies, even to compliment them: praising weight loss reinforces the very norm that causes harm.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t treat a makeup-free face as a feat, as our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\/applauding-celebrities-posing-without-makeup-heres-why-we-need-to-stop-431912\">why we should stop applauding stars who pose without makeup<\/a> explains.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Our approach: listening to what stars say about their bodies<\/h2>\n<p>Celebrity news is often fleeting. What interests us are the moments when a public figure talks about their body, their health or the pressures they face, because these stories resonate with our readers\u2019 daily lives. We aim to share these voices rather than judge anyone\u2019s figure, and to place each story in a broader context: the pressure to be thin, ageism and sexism in the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n<h2>Articles to start with<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Actress Madhuri Dixit opens up about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/actress-madhuri-dixit-criticized-for-her-weight-reveals-she-has-suffered-from-body-shaming-444560\">the body shaming she faced over her weight<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>An actress told she wasn\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/deemed-not-attractive-enough-leading-role-actress-denounces-beauty-standards-446807\">\u201cattractive enough\u201d for a lead role<\/a> calls out beauty standards in the film industry.<\/li>\n<li>Heidi Klum talks candidly about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/heidi-klum-discusses-weight-gain-related-to-menopause-435490\">weight gain during menopause<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Olivia Wilde <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/people\/actress-olivia-wilde-famous-benefits-age-446182\">celebrates the upside of getting older<\/a>, pushing back against the pressure to stay young.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What is body shaming?<\/h3>\n<p>Body shaming means criticizing, mocking or judging someone based on their physical appearance: weight, height, skin, body hair, age or facial features. Public figures are especially exposed because every photo of them is publicly commented on, but it affects everyone, online and in everyday life.<\/p>\n<h3>What is body dysmorphia?<\/h3>\n<p>Body dysmorphic disorder, often called body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition marked by an excessive preoccupation with a perceived flaw in one\u2019s appearance that is minor or invisible to others. It can cause intense distress and repetitive behaviors, such as constantly checking one\u2019s reflection. Only a health professional can diagnose it and recommend appropriate support.<\/p>\n<h3>Why do celebrities\u2019 stories about their bodies matter?<\/h3>\n<p>When a widely followed public figure talks about insecurities, an eating disorder or criticism of their weight, they bring visibility to an experience that is often lived in shame. These stories can help others speak up and encourage them to seek help. They remain personal accounts, however, and are no substitute for advice from a health professional.<\/p>\n<p>Want to go further? Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/culture\">Culture<\/a> section analyzes movies, TV and music through the lens of representation, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\">Society<\/a> section looks at beauty standards and discrimination, and our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\">Body positive<\/a> section supports you on the road to accepting your body.<\/p>","cat_name":"Celebrities","category_nicename":"people","category_parent":0}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429894","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8394"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=429894"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429894\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":429936,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429894\/revisions\/429936"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/429895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=429894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=429894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=429894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}