TOKYO: The Ukraine-Born Miss Japan, Karolina Shiino has announced to give up her crown following a news report revealed a scandal about her. She was born in Ukraine, but raised in Japan stirred up storm after winning the title of Miss Japan 2024 in February. Many people asked questions how “Miss Japan” could be awarded to a person outside of Japan. While some embraced her win, others contended that she did not embody traditional Japanese beauty standards.
Amidst the controversy, a local magazine published an exposé alleging Shiino’s affair with a married doctor. The man has yet to publicly comment.
Initially, pageant organizers defended Shiino, asserting she was unaware of the man’s marital status. However, they later stated on Monday that she had admitted to being aware of his marriage and family.
Consequently, Shiino apologized for her misleading acts, expressing regret and attributing her behavior to fear and panic in response to the report.
In light of her confession, the Miss Japan Association accepted her resignation, and Shiino extended apologies to her supporters and the public.
The Miss Japan title will remain vacant for the remainder of the year, despite the presence of several runner-ups. Ms. Shiino, crowned on January 22, marked a historic moment as the first individual of European descent to receive this accolade.
Proficient in spoken and written Japanese, she obtained citizenship through naturalization in 2022. In her acceptance speech, she expressed gratitude for finally being acknowledged as Japanese, despite previous instances of rejection.
