The selection of Karolina Shino, a naturalized Japanese of Ukrainian parents, as the winner of this year’s edition of Miss Japan has sparked debate on the country’s social networks about identity due to the girl’s Western roots.
Shiino, a 26-year-old model, was crowned Miss Japan on the 22nd by a panel of 30 judges, who voted on the “Japanese beauty” of 12 aspiring finalists, taking into account three aspects: interior, physical and demeanor.
“It’s like a dream. The moment I heard my name, I couldn’t stop crying,” Shiino said in her first statement since being chosen Miss Japan, a victory she credits for feeling “fully recognized as Japanese”. She is very grateful.
Shino came to Japan when she was 5 years old and obtained Japanese citizenship through naturalization in 2020.
The Miss Japan pageant allows any woman between the ages of 17 and 26 who holds Japanese citizenship to participate.
Shino’s election as Miss Japan sparked debate on the country’s social networks around the notion of identity and beauty that is considered ‘truly’ Japanese.
“What is Japanese about Miss Japan?” One user wrote in recent hours, as the news spread, while another pointed out next to Shino’s photo: “This person is not half Japanese, her parents are Ukrainian and she was born. In Ukraine. Is this Miss Japan? From ‘Difference’ Different ‘discrimination’. “Japan is not a country like the United States.”
Other users reflected: “What’s wrong with a Japanese person being elected Miss Japan?” or “There are many Japanese people who don’t appreciate Japan, so what’s wrong with appreciating the country you’ve lived in since childhood, becoming naturalized and accepting the challenge as Japanese and winning Miss Japan?”, with a video of the winner saying she’s “Japanese. as wanting to end his days”.
For his part, historian Hiro Yamashita shared Carolina Shino’s win on his X social network profile in a message that surpassed a thousand likes this Wednesday afternoon.
“Racial discrimination should never be tolerated, but if we are going to compete for appearance under the Miss Japan concept, I personally believe it should be under the Japanese beauty standard. Against Karolina Shino’s body, a pure-blooded Japanese woman has no chance of winning according to modern beauty standards,” he commented.
Model Ariana Miyamoto’s win at the 2015 edition of Miss Universe Japan sparked a similar debate. Miyamoto, whose mother was Japanese and father African-American, caused excitement and controversy because of her mixed race, and was the subject of harassment by certain groups in the country, one of the most racially homogenous in the world. EFE
