Key Facts
• November 2025: Photo of Miss Finland making ‘slanted eyes’ gesture posted on social media.
• Gesture accompanied by caption: ‘Eating with Chinese people.’
• Gesture widely recognized as a racist stereotype against Asians.
• December 11, 2025: Miss Finland organizers revoke her title, citing values against racism.
• The woman publicly apologizes, admitting her actions were wrong.
• Three right-wing populist party lawmakers defend her, posting similar photos online.
• December 15, 2025: Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo condemns lawmakers’ actions as damaging to Finland’s image.
Summary
A controversy erupted in Finland after a photo of Miss Finland making a ‘slanted eyes’ gesture, considered a racist stereotype against Asians, surfaced on social media in November 2025. The image, captioned ‘Eating with Chinese people,’ drew widespread criticism. On December 11, organizers stripped her of the title, emphasizing their stance against racism. The woman apologized, acknowledging her mistake. However, the issue escalated when three lawmakers from the right-wing populist Finns Party defended her by posting similar photos online. This sparked backlash, particularly from opposition parties. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo criticized the lawmakers’ actions on December 15, calling them ‘foolish’ and harmful to the country’s reputation. The incident highlights ongoing tensions around racism and political divisions in Finland.
