Debate Stirred as Ukrainian-Born Model Wins Miss Japan Contest

The crowning of Karolina Shiino, a Ukrainian-born model, as the winner of the Miss Japan contest has sparked a lively debate on the meaning of being Japanese and the perception of Japanese beauty. Shiino, who has lived in Japan for over 20 years and holds Japanese citizenship, emerged as the victor in this prestigious contest. Her victory symbolizes Japan’s efforts to integrate foreigners and counteract its declining birthrate.

Shiino expressed her joy and gratitude in fluent Japanese during an emotional acceptance speech. She mentioned facing racial barriers and instances where she wasn’t fully accepted. Nevertheless, she stressed that she lives as a Japanese person and feels appreciated for her Japanese identity.

Responses on social media platforms varied, with some questioning her representing Japanese women due to her Ukrainian background and non-Japanese appearance. However, others defended her right to represent Japan based on her Japanese citizenship. The debate echoes a similar controversy surrounding Ariana Miyamoto’s participation in the Miss Universe pageant in 2015. Miyamoto, born to a Japanese mother and African-American father, also faced criticism before ultimately representing Japan.

Despite the discourse surrounding her win, Shiino hopes that people will look beyond her external appearance and recognize her as a representative of Japan. She emphasizes that beauty should transcend physical attributes and hopes to inspire others to embrace diversity.