The recently crowned Miss Japan, Karolina Shiino, originally from Ukraine, has voluntarily relinquished her title following a tabloid report exposing her involvement in a romantic relationship with a married man.
The controversy surrounding the 26-year-old pageant winner, who became Miss Japan just two weeks ago, ignited discussions within the public. While some celebrated her as a naturalized citizen, others contested that she did not embody traditional Japanese beauty standards.
Amidst the debates, a local magazine, Shukan Bunshun, published an exposé detailing Ms. Shiino’s alleged affair with a married influencer and doctor. The implicated man has not issued any public statements.
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Initially, the pageant organizers defended Shiino, claiming she was unaware of the man’s marital status. However, in response to the report last week, they acknowledged that she had indeed known about his marriage and family.
On Monday, the Miss Japan Association announced Shiino’s resignation from the title, citing her admission of knowledge about the man’s marital status. In a statement, Shiino apologized to her fans and the public, expressing regret for causing trouble and betraying those who supported her. She attributed her actions to fear and panic triggered by the report.
The Miss Japan crown will remain vacant for the rest of the year, despite having several runner-ups. Shiino, born in Ukraine and later moved to Japan at the age of five, took on her step-father’s Japanese last name. Fluent in Japanese and a naturalized citizen since 2022, she made history on January 22 as the first person of European descent to hold the Miss Japan title. In her acceptance speech, she expressed gratitude for being recognized as Japanese, despite facing previous challenges to her identity.
