The Gist A 26-year-old model of Ukrainian origin who came to Japan at the age of 5 and has since been naturalized has been chosen Miss Japan 2024. A victory that sparked controversy in the country.
A true symbol of integration that not everyone likes. Carolina Shiino, 26, was elected Miss Japan 2024 this Monday, January 22nd. The young woman, originally from Ukraine, then became the first naturalized Japanese citizen to win the beauty contest, reports a BBC correspondent on site.
Carolina Shiino, a naturalized Japanese citizen who was born in Ukraine and has lived in Japan since she was five, was crowned Miss Japan yesterday.
She was very moved and said that winning this competition made her feel fully recognized as a Japanese woman.pic.twitter.com/7zuMbtbQLf— \u26e9 Ryo Saeba – Japan XYZ \u26e9 (@Ryo_Saeba_3) January 23, 2024
“There were racial barriers and it was difficult to be accepted as Japanese,” the young woman, who grew up in Nagoya, said of her trip and then expressed her gratitude for his victory.
“0% Japanese”
Not enough to silence criticism on social networks, with some Japanese regretting the choice of a “100% Ukrainian” young woman: “If she was half (Japanese), it wouldn't be a problem (…) But she is ethnically 0% Japanese and…”wasn’t even born in Japan.”
“I think the Japanese obviously get a bad message when a person with European looks is named the most beautiful Japanese woman,” can also be read on social networks.
For her part, the organizer of the competition came to the defense of the winner, always to our British colleagues: “She speaks and writes in great and polite Japanese, she is more Japanese than us.”
Back in 2015, the Miss Japan pageant sparked debate with the crowning of Ariana Miyamoto, the first biracial woman to win the competition.