00:00 Controversy surrounds the newly crowned Miss Japan 2024, Carolina Shino, a 26-year-old
00:08 Japanese model born in Ukraine.
00:10 Hailing from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Carolina made history as the first naturalized Japanese
00:16 citizen to clinch the prestigious title during the contest held in Tokyo on Monday.
00:22 Despite her fluency in Japanese, the victory has sparked debates on issues ranging from
00:27 race to identity.
00:29 Carolina, who faced criticism for appearing too European, according to social media comments,
00:35 carried the weight of these challenges even as she tearfully accepted her crown.
00:40 The win marks a milestone in her journey to be embraced as a true Japanese, sparking conversations
00:45 about the evolving notions of national identity and beauty standards.
00:50 Who is Carolina Shino?
00:52 Carolina, a 26-year-old model hailing from Ukraine, relocated to Japan at the age of
00:57 five and grew up in Nagoya.
01:00 Despite becoming the first naturalized Japanese citizen to secure the pageant victory, her
01:04 win has prompted questions about the criteria for being considered Japanese, given her unconventional
01:10 visual features.
01:11 Miss Shino's journey to Japan began at the age of five, when her mother remarried a Japanese
01:16 man.
01:17 In declaring herself Japanese in speech and mind, she aspires to foster a culture where
01:22 individuals are not evaluated based on their outward appearance.
01:26 Enriching preconceived notions of what it means to be Japanese.
01:30 "I've had to face barriers that often prevent me from being accepted as Japanese, so I'm
01:35 filled with gratitude to be recognized at this competition as a Japanese person," the
01:40 26-year-old said in her speech at the Miss Japan Grand Prix pageant.
01:44 Carolina's victory in the Miss Japan pageant has triggered skepticism and debate on social
01:49 media, with many questioning the appropriateness of awarding the title to someone not of Japanese
01:54 descent.
01:55 This controversy emerged almost a decade after Ariana Miyamoto broke barriers in 2015 as
02:01 the first biracial woman to be crowned Miss Japan.
02:04 Ariana faced challenges due to her mixed race background, with a Japanese mother and an
02:08 African-American father.
02:10 In the case of Carolina Shino in 2023, the scrutiny intensified as she lacks any Japanese
02:15 parentage, prompting a renewed discussion on the evolving criteria for representing
02:20 Japanese beauty and identity.
02:22 Following the announcement of her victory, social media buzzed with comments questioning
02:26 the authenticity of Carolina's Miss Japan title.
02:30 Criticisms such as "Miss Japan should be someone of Japanese mix, not 100% Ukrainian,"
02:35 "She's beautiful, but where is the Japanese-ness?" and "Being 0% ethnically Japanese and not
02:41 even born in Japan" raised concerns were prevalent.
02:45 In response, iWada, the pageant organizer, conveyed a different perspective, stating,
02:50 "Today's result reinforces one conviction for me.
02:53 Japanese beauty is not defined by appearance or bloodline.
02:56 It firmly resides in our hearts."
02:58 iWada's remarks invite reflection on the essence of Japanese beauty and prompt an exploration
03:02 of the broader concept beyond mere physical attributes or ethnic backgrounds.
03:07 Meanwhile, Carolina earlier last year wrote on Instagram that she "may not look Japanese,
03:13 but her mind had become Japanese because she had grown up in Japan."
03:17 On her win, she said that winning the Miss Japan 2024 title was a dream.
03:21 "Being recognized as a Japanese in this competition fills me with gratitude," she added.
03:35 (upbeat music)
Comments