File photo courtesy of Die Zeit

 

Sarah Dzafce, Miss Finland, has ignited a worldwide scandal after a photo showed her pulling her eyelids to mimic "slanted eyes." The image, captioned "eating with a Chinese", has resulted in her losing her crown after a backlash from Asian communities.

 

The controversy erupted across Japan, South Korea, and China and even affected Finland's national airline, Finnair. The Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, criticised the gesture as "thoughtless," stating that it was damaging to Finland's image. Dzafce, who claims the gesture was due to a headache, apologised, but her explanation met with scepticism, especially because it was in Finnish.

 

Despite Dzafce's apology, public reaction remains intense. Criticism for the timing and language of her apology points to perceived insincerity, with many noting it should have been accessible to Asian audiences. Controversially, two Finnish MPs mimicked Dzafce's gesture in support but were forced to retract their posts following backlash.

 

The uproar extended to calls for a boycott of Finland, impacting Finnair's operations. The airline distanced itself, by expressing respect for diversity. Meanwhile, a petition in Finland demands further investigation into anti-Asian discrimination, highlighting ongoing societal challenges, reported the BBC.

 

Photo composite for reference only

 

Key Takeaways

• Miss Finland was stripped of her title after a racially insensitive photo went viral.
• The incident provoked international backlash, affecting Finland’s image and Finnair.
• Finnish MPs who showed support faced criticism and potential sanctions.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-12-17

 

 

 

I'm shocked. String her up.

 

Because Asians never make fun of Caucasian features.

 

Especially Thais.

 

Let's all clutch our pearls and denounce ourselves in a massive circle jack of white guilt. 

 

Lefties first. 

She could definitely pull something of mine that's for sure. Looking at the bottom pic looks like there might be some Asian lineage anyway. People are just hypersensitive these days and I'll bet most of the backlash is coming from the CCP and CCP shills

15 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I'm shocked. String her up.

 

Because Asians never make fun of Caucasian features.

 

 

Which Asian country calls Westerners big noses?

2 minutes ago, Geoff914 said:

Which Asian country calls Westerners big noses?

 

China and Taiwan would be the most notable examples.

 

Of course other Asian countries have other terms for other features such as Gweilo, Ang Mo etc.

 

But every self loathing Liberal knows it's only bad when Westerners do it. 😄

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

But every self loathing Liberal knows it's only bad when Westerners do it. 😄

Of course.

15 hours ago, dinsdale said:

She could definitely pull something of mine that's for sure. Looking at the bottom pic looks like there might be some Asian lineage anyway. People are just hypersensitive these days and I'll bet most of the backlash is coming from the CCP and CCP shills

Absolutely, it must be like walking on eggshells at these events, only one wrong look, or comment and your 'fried'

Maybe she is a fan of Mr. Spock? I am of Asian descent and this is "much ado about nothing"

Asians, I think mostly of Chinese descent, are very quick to respond with fake outrage at the slightest thing.

Who cares?

There was case just a few years ago when a Western company used a Chinese model who had very narrow eyes. All the Chinese were in uproar. Funny how Chinese traditional art always show very narrow eyes.

What??? An eyebrow gesture causes this much fuss....do they hang people for giving the 'V' sign now?

I shocked someone from Europe would do something racist.  

27 minutes ago, parallelman said:

do they hang people for giving the 'V' sign now?

 

Depends on which boxes you tick. 

 

Ricky Jones? Call for throats to be slit. No problem.

Joey Barton? Make fun of someone's poor football punditry. Jail sentence.

16 hours ago, dinsdale said:

She could definitely pull something of mine that's for sure. Looking at the bottom pic looks like there might be some Asian lineage anyway. People are just hypersensitive these days and I'll bet most of the backlash is coming from the CCP and CCP shills

The bottom photo is not of Miss Finland.

1 hour ago, Geoff914 said:

Which Asian country calls Westerners big noses?

Most of them ...... and 'white ghost', and let's not mention "falang kee nok" 😁

1 hour ago, cdemundo said:

Asians, I think mostly of Chinese descent, are very quick to respond with fake outrage at the slightest thing.

Who cares?

Yes, it's required by the State in China to display mock outrage to demonstrate your patriotism.

 

A quick poll of the 8 Thais I'm working with this morning .... 0 give a damn, they have real issues to concern them.

3 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

"falang kee nok" 😁

Kon Thai Grajock 😋

Bit of a strange one and without seeing the actual photo which is considered offensive difficult to call.

Anyway from a western female viewpoint just about every woman and girl I know when applying their eyeliner makes an upflick at the outer end and a slight point down at the inner side because it's considered attractive and beautifying. It mimics asian eye feature and is a complimentary positive not negative.

Depends on context I suppose.

Pretty much every younger Thai lady I know uses products and make up to lighten her skin tone. They're not doing that to mock white people. Likewise it's a fact that Asians have slanted eyes and we consider that attractive.  

37 minutes ago, tweedledee2 said:

The bottom photo is not of Miss Finland.

A clearly labeled as a composite. Some folks don't or are incapable of reading.

7 hours ago, Chutney said:

when applying their eyeliner makes an upflick at the outer end and a slight point down at the inner side because it's considered attractive and beautifying. 

JD-approved. This uproar is just another example of cancel culture. Thin skin, can't take a joke.

8 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Depends on which boxes you tick. 

 

Ricky Jones? Call for throats to be slit. No problem.

Joey Barton? Make fun of someone's poor football punditry. Jail sentence.

Jo Brand on the BBC calling for battery acid to be thrown on Nigel Farage. No action.

8 hours ago, Chutney said:

Bit of a strange one and without seeing the actual photo which is considered offensive difficult to call.

Anyway from a western female viewpoint just about every woman and girl I know when applying their eyeliner makes an upflick at the outer end and a slight point down at the inner side because it's considered attractive and beautifying. It mimics asian eye feature and is a complimentary positive not negative.

Depends on context I suppose.

Pretty much every younger Thai lady I know uses products and make up to lighten her skin tone. They're not doing that to mock white people. Likewise it's a fact that Asians have slanted eyes and we consider that attractive.  

I reckon Thai ladies eyes are the nicest, and perhaps the remark was made out of jealousy.  

 

These eyes, for example, were photographed over my dining table .....

 

Thais on LINE hate it when I say Nee Hao, when they look Chinese.

On 12/17/2025 at 4:46 PM, JonnyF said:

I'm shocked. String her up.

 

Because Asians never make fun of Caucasian features.

 

Especially Thais.

 

Let's all clutch our pearls and denounce ourselves in a massive circle jack of white guilt. 

 

Lefties first. 

You're so sensitive jonny.

Can you go one day without v saying 'leftie'.

Low self esteem behaviour, focus on your own irrational bigotry. 

On 12/17/2025 at 4:46 PM, dinsdale said:

She could definitely pull something of mine that's for sure. Looking at the bottom pic looks like there might be some Asian lineage anyway. People are just hypersensitive these days and I'll bet most of the backlash is coming from the CCP and CCP shills

"Photo composite for reference only"  so it's not actually a picture of the gesture that caused offence (not even sure if it's actually a picture of Miss Finland).

I used to do the same thing when I wanted to get my contact lenses out. Just glad that nobody was there to snap a shot or my reputation would be in tatters.

After living in SEA, is was going to start a 'stand up' comedy act ... scratch that off the bucket list ...

 

... cancelled ...  F'me

 

Oh well , back to my roots ...

 

 

 

On 12/17/2025 at 4:46 PM, JonnyF said:

I'm shocked. String her up.

 

Because Asians never make fun of Caucasian features.

 

Especially Thais.

 

Let's all clutch our pearls and denounce ourselves in a massive circle jack of white guilt. 

 

Lefties first. 

Have the locals been picking on you Jonny?

On 12/18/2025 at 9:11 AM, Mike_Hunt said:

I shocked someone from Europe would do something racist.  

I’m never shocked by who around here leaps to their defence.