The Miss Japan beauty pageant has been rocked by a scandal, as the Ukraine-born winner, Karolina Shiino, has renounced her crown after a tabloid exposed her affair with a married man.
Shiino, 26, made history two weeks ago when she became the first naturalised citizen and person of European descent to win the prestigious title. But her victory also sparked controversy, as some critics claimed she did not embody the traditional Japanese beauty standards.
The controversy escalated when a local magazine, Shukan Bunshun, published a bombshell report, alleging that Shiino had been involved in a relationship with a married influencer and doctor. The man has remained silent on the matter.
The pageant organisers initially defended Shiino, saying she was unaware of the man’s marital status.
But on Monday, they announced that Shiino had admitted to knowing about the man’s marriage and family, and had apologised for lying to them. They accepted her resignation, the Miss Japan Association said.
Shiino also issued a public apology on Monday, saying she had panicked and acted out of fear when the report came out.
“I am truly sorry for the huge trouble I have caused and for betraying those who supported me,” she said.
The Miss Japan title will now be left vacant for the rest of the year, despite the presence of several runner-ups. Shiino was crowned on 22 January, after moving to Japan with her mother when she was five and adopting her step-father’s Japanese surname.
She is fluent in Japanese and became a citizen in 2022.
In her acceptance speech, she had said: “I had not been accepted as Japanese many times, but I am filled with gratitude to have been recognized as Japanese today.
