New Miss Finland 2025, Sarah Dzafce, lost the title only a few weeks after the win. There was a storm on the network after the disclosure of her old entries that netizens considered racist.
Storm in Social Media
It all started with a series of posts a few years ago, which resurfaced on Finnish social media. The archival screenshots showed how Dafka ironically commented on immigrants and ethnic minorities.
Although her managers tried to explain that it was "the failed jokes of youth", the Internet did not forgive. Hasztag #MissRacism dominated Finnish TikTok and Twitter (now X), generating thousands of comments in a few hours.
Official statement of the contest organizers
The organizers of the Miss Finland competition announced that the title was withdrawn from "cause of behaviour contrary to the values represented by the competition".
"We can't promote a person who might have hurt other communities with his earlier statements. The values of equality and respect are a priority for us" – it is written in an official communication.
The new Miss Finland became the first runner-up from the final of the September competition – 23-year-old Tara Lehtonen, who officially took over the crown after taking the title of Sarah Dzafka.
Who's the new Miss Finland?
Tara Lehtonen is from Finland, lives in the Helsinki area and before the scandal was the face of several local fashion campaigns. In the finals, Miss Suomi 2025 initially placed second behind Sarah Dzafce, however, according to the rules she automatically took the title after her dethronement.
Miss Finland's organizers reported in the release that after receiving the crown of the former Miss, the new Miss Finland 2025/ Miss Suomi 2025 title includes Tara Lehtonen. Tara herself also confirmed this on social media, describing herself as "Miss Suomi 2025 – Miss Finland 2025" and thanking for her trust and promising to "take the title with pride and respect."
Public opinion reactions
Finnish media have shared in the ratings. Some commentators praise the organizers' decision, indicating that Miss's image must be flawless at a time when every statement on the web is remembered.
Others, however, note that Dzafce has been "destroyed by an online crowd", and the punishment is disproportionate to her guilt. In the opinion of some people, the organizers bent under pressure from social media, instead of choosing the path of dialogue and education.
So, what's next on Miss's former career?
The Dean announced that she was going to "understand the consequences of her words" and withdraw temporarily from public life. On Instagram she wrote that she "repents past mistakes" and "want to start over without hatred".
