Miss Finland 2025, Sarah Anjelica Dzafce, was first in the news for winning the national beauty pageant and then later for losing her crown after a racism controversy.
Winning the title
Sarah Anjelica Dzafce, a 22‑year‑old from Kuopio with roots in Kosovo, was crowned Miss Suomi / Miss Finland 2025 in early September 2025. As part of that role, she went on to represent Finland at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant held in Thailand in November.
The controversy
After Miss Universe, an earlier social media photo of Dzafce resurfaced in which she made a gesture widely viewed as mocking Asian facial features. The image prompted strong public criticism and was described by many as racist and offensive to Asian communities.
Losing the crown
In December 2025, the Miss Finland organization announced that Dzafce’s national title was revoked because her actions were considered incompatible with the values and responsibilities of the role. The organization emphasized that it does not accept racism or discriminatory behavior and said the content she posted was harmful and against the competition’s principles.
What happened next
Dzafce issued a public apology, saying she wanted to learn from the incident and grow, while acknowledging the hurt caused, especially to Asian communities. Her first runner‑up, Tara Lehtonen from Helsinki, was then appointed as the new Miss Finland 2025 and pledged to carry the title with pride and respect.