> # Finns Party Lawmakers Defend Miss Finland With Slant-Eye Gestures
Ruling Coalition Members Face Backlash After Posting Racist Gestures in Support of Stripped Beauty Queen
Published 2025.12.15. 13:03Updated 2025.12.15. 15:06
Finns Party MPs in Finland’s ‘eye-slitting’ relay /X
The 2025 Miss Finland winner, Sarah Dzafce, had her crown revoked for a racially derogatory gesture toward Asians, prompting ruling party lawmakers to defend her by collectively posting “slant-eye” challenge photos on social media.
The controversy began with Dzafce’s actions. Late last month, she pulled the corners of her eyes upward with both hands during a meal and posted on social media, “Eating with a Chinese.” The “slant-eye” gesture is a well-known form of anti-Asian discrimination in Western countries. After public outrage, the organizing committee stripped her of her title on the 11th, stating, “We do not tolerate any form of discrimination.”
The issue escalated with Finnish politicians’ responses. Lawmakers from the Finns Party, a far-right party in the ruling coalition, organized a backlash. Juho Eerola, a member of parliament, and Sebastian Tynkkynen , a member of the European Parliament, among others, posted photos and videos of themselves pulling their eyes upward on their social media accounts. They expressed solidarity with Dzafce, calling the crown revocation “excessive punishment.” Jani Mäkelä, the Finns Party’s parliamentary group leader, joined the fray, stating, “Colleagues have the right to criticize. I fully support them.”
MP Juho Eerola posts photo with ‘Je suis Sarah!, I am Sarah Dzafce!’ and eye-slitting gesture on Facebook /Juho Eerola Facebook
The government’s handling of the situation has also faced criticism. Finland’s human rights ambassador blocked a Japanese user on X (formerly Twitter) who asked, “What do you think about this incident?” Riikka Purra, the finance minister and Finns Party leader, who previously faced backlash for racist blog posts, remained silent. The Asahi Shimbun reported on the 14th that a Japanese man residing in Finland started an online petition demanding improved anti-Asian discrimination measures, which has garnered over 4,000 signatures. Anders Adlercreutz, the Minister of Education, later criticized, “The lawmakers’ actions are irresponsible and childish.”
The Finns Party, at the center of the controversy, is a far-right populist party whose name translates to “The Party for Finns.” Advocating anti-immigration and anti-refugee policies, it surged to become the second-largest party in the April general election last year. The National Coalition Party (NCP), which won first place, formed a coalition government with the Finns Party to secure a majority. Local media criticized Prime Minister Petteri Orpo for hesitating to impose strict disciplinary measures due to fears of coalition collapse amid the party’s repeated racism scandals.
Sarah Dzafce (22), who is selected as Miss Finland, is stripped of title amid racial discrimination controversy. Right shows Sarah Dzafce making eye-slitting gesture. /AP·Social Media
Global netizens referenced Finland’s past as “Fingolia,” a portmanteau of Finland and Mongolia. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Western European racial theorists labeled Finns as “Mongolians living in Europe” due to physical traits like high cheekbones, treating them as second-class citizens in white society. Netizens remarked, “Finns, once discriminated against by Western Europeans, are now mocking Asians. Are the lawmakers’ slant-eye photos a ritual to honor their Mongolian ancestors?”
