Ukrainian Model Is Crowned Miss Japan, Sparking Outrage

A woman of Ukrainian descent has stirred some controversy following her coronation as Miss Japan.

On Monday, January 22, Carolina Shiino, 26, of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, became the first Japanese citizen to be granted naturalisation by winning the pageant in Tokyo.

When Miss Shiino was five years old, her mother married a Japanese guy, and they moved to the nation, according to Tokyo Weekender.

“I’ve had to face barriers that often prevent me from being accepted as Japanese, so I am filled with gratitude to be recognised at this competition as a Japanese person,” she said in her acceptance speech at the Miss Japan Grand Prix pageant.

Miss Shiino described herself as Japanese in both “speech and mind” and wanted to create a society where “people are not judged by their appearance”.

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Online users, however, continued to express concerns about her winning the title. Some asked how someone without any Japanese ancestry could be Miss Japan.

“Many Japanese people, including people I know, aren’t happy with the choice of Miss Japan,” one user said on X.

Another said: “As a non-Japanese person living in Japan, I also think that the choice of someone with no ethnic connection to Japan is beyond ridiculous.”

Many questioned whether Western appearances were “preferred” over Asian ones and whether the choice was related to the conflict in Ukraine.

“If she were born Russian, she wouldn’t have won. Not a chance. Obviously, the criteria is now a political decision. What a sad day for Japan,” one person claimed.

“I think that Japanese people naturally (would) get the wrong message when a European-looking person is called the most beautiful Japanese,” another person said.

As stated by the pageant’s organiser, Ai Wada, Miss Shiino’s win “gave us an opportunity to rethink what Japanese beauty is”.

“Following today’s result, there is one thing I am convinced of… Japanese beauty exists not in the appearance, not in the blood, but it exists firmly in our heart,” she added.

The current Miss Japan has stirred controversy in the nation before.

Born to a Japanese mother and a black American father, Ariana Miyamoto made history in 2015 by becoming the first mixed-race Miss Japan. A debate was also sparked by her triumph within the nation.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli