Sarah Dzafce, recently crowned Miss Finland 2025 in September 2025, lost her title following a major controversy. A photo of her, which resurfaced on social media, showed her pulling at her eyes with her fingers, a gesture she captioned with the phrase "eating Chinese."

The Miss Finland committee quickly reacted to the growing controversy in Finland, denouncing the gesture as racist and "totally contrary to the values of the competition".

🗣️ The Committee's firm stance

In an official statement, the organization justified the removal of the crown, emphasizing its commitment against discrimination:

"The content posted on the social media accounts of the reigning Miss Finland was offensive, damaging, and completely contrary to the values of the Miss Finland competition (...). Racism is never acceptable in any form."

The committee also emphasized the role model that Miss Finland must embody: "When an individual assumes a national and international representational role, their actions and responsibilities are inseparable. Miss Finland occupies a role model position, which demands respect from all people, regardless of their origin, background, or appearance."

🙏 Apologies and handover of title

For her part, Sarah Dzafce publicly apologized and took full responsibility for her actions.

“I take responsibility for my actions and I learn from them,” she said, adding: “Respect for people, their origins and diversity is paramount to me. This means that everyone can be themselves and be treated with dignity.”

Following this dismissal, Tara Lehtonen , first runner-up of the 2025 edition, was officially crowned the new Miss Finland.