Ukrainian-Born Model Crowned Miss Japan, Sparking National Identity Debate

Carolina Shiino's Victory Reignites Discussions on 'Japaneseness' Amidst Japan's Shifting Demographics

Carolina Shiino, a 26-year-old model born in Ukraine and naturalised Japanese citizen, has been crowned Miss Japan, sparking a nationwide debate on national identity.
Shiino, who moved to Japan at the age of five, is the first naturalised Japanese citizen to win the pageant, leading to mixed reactions on social media, with some questioning her 'Japaneseness'.
Pageant organiser Ai Wada defended Shiino's victory, stating that Japanese beauty 'exists not in the appearance, not in the blood, but it exists firmly in our heart.'
This is not the first time the Miss Japan contest has stirred controversy. In 2015, Ariana Miyamoto, a biracial woman with a Japanese mother and African American father, became the first mixed-race woman to win the pageant.
Shiino's victory has been seen by some as a reflection of Japan's slowly shifting demographics, due to globalisation and a more liberal immigration policy.