Ukrainian-born Model Gets Crowned As Miss Japan 2024, Sparks Debate Over Japanese Identity

Ukrainian-born model, 26-year-old Carolina Shii, was crowned Miss Japan at Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo on Monday. model, who can speak impeccable Japanese and has lived in country since she was five years old, became first naturalised Japanese citizen to win pant. However, her victory has invertently raised questions amongst community on what are criteria to be a part of such pants, and should bi-racial or naturalised Japanese people allowed to be a part of m.

Carolina’s controversial victory

Carolina’s victory has met with criticism from beauty community in Japan, who say that a person with Euro-centric features cant be crowned “Miss Japan” as she does t truly represent what it looks like to be Japanese. A similar debate was raised in nearly 10 years ago when Ariana Miyamoto became first bi-racial woman to be crowned Miss Japan in 2015. With a Japanese mor and African American far, Miyamoto's victory was controversial as many people raised questions on wher bi-racial people should represent Japan in international pants.

Carolina’s victory has drawn ire because she has Japanese parent, unlike Miyamoto whose mor was Japanese. Carolina moved to Japan when her mor got remarried to a Japanese man. social media reactions to her victory in oldest pant are divided. While some are looking at it as looking beyond appearances and judging her based on talent, ors think Miss Japan being a Ukraine-born model is problematic.

Social media backlash

An X user posted, “ re's a lot to be said about a white woman winning Miss Japan. I do wonder if same people celebrating this were celebrating Ariana Miyamoto and Priyanka Yoshikawa when y won, if t n we kw reason why” while ar commented, “ backlash against Miss Japan is why—despite loving A LOT about Japan—I also understand my place. You, as a foreigner, will NEVER be Japanese. Because it’s both an ethnic group and a nationality. You could, perhaps, finesse yourself into a passport. But that’s it.”