Published6. February 2024, 3:14 p.m.
Beauty contest: After the controversy, the resignation: the ordeal of Miss Japan
Karolina Shiino has survived criticism about her origins, but not revelations about an affair.
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Karolina Shiino, 26, gave up her title of Miss Japan 2024.
The reign of Miss Japan 2024 was as stormy as it was brief. After being criticized for not being Japanese enough, the beauty pageant winner had to give up her crown for an extramarital affair.
But it was false and the argument did not hold up. Karolina Shiino gave up her crown on Monday after admitting she knew her lover was married and had a family. The Miss Japan association said that the young woman had apologized for lying to it, reports the BBC.
Sorry for the betrayal
Karolina Shiino also apologized to the public on her account Instagram. “I am truly sorry for the huge problems I caused and for betraying those who supported me,” she said, saying she lied because she was panicked.
The beauty therefore renounces her title just two weeks after her coronation. And no one will succeed her: there will be no Miss Japan 2024, it has been announced.
Before this “abdication”, Karolina Shiino had already had to go through a storm because of her origins. Born in Ukraine, to two Ukrainian parents, she has lived in Japan since the age of 5 and obtained Japanese nationality at the age of 22. She bears her father-in-law’s surname and was the first naturalized Japanese woman to be crowned.
“Not even born in Japan”
Many welcomed this first and supported the new elected official. But others obviously had great difficulty accepting a Miss Japan who did not have Japanese blood.
On social networks, many attacked this Miss Japan “who does not look like a Miss Japan”, who was “not even born in Japan” or who did not “represent traditional Japanese beauty ideals.”
“All my life I have been told that I am not Japanese enough, directly and indirectly, but I know that I am Japanese. No one has the right to tell me otherwise,” retorted the beauty queen. In tears, she wore her new crown, a sign for her that she was finally recognized.
Karolina Shiino had survived these attacks. But his lie and his affairs of the heart got the better of his title.