Carolina Shiino, a 26-year-old model, has sparked controversy in Japan after being named Miss Japan. Born in Ukraine and raised in Japan, Shiino is the first naturalized Japanese citizen to win the title. Some people have praised her win as a sign of the times, while others argue that she does not look like a typical 'Miss Japan.' This debate echoes a similar controversy in 2015 when Ariana Miyamoto, a biracial woman, won the crown. The issue raises questions about what it means to be Japanese and the criteria for beauty pageant winners.
However, the controversy surrounding Shiino's win has taken a new turn. According to a report by The Japan Times, Shiino has relinquished her crown after a magazine detailed her relationship with a married man. The Miss Japan Association initially denied the claim but later confirmed that Shiino had dated the married man and apologized for lying about it. This revelation led to Shiino's decision to step down as Miss Japan. This is the first time a Miss Japan winner has relinquished their title. The incident has further fueled the ongoing debate over Japanese identity and the appropriateness of her win [53dc47de] [8364f3ed].
In a similar vein, the Miss USA pageant has been embroiled in controversy and resignations. Savannah Gankiewicz, from Hawaii, was crowned the new Miss USA 2023 on Wednesday following shocking resignations and allegations that the pageant’s CEO failed to take an incident of sexual harassment seriously and created a toxic work environment. Gankiewicz, 28, formally accepted the role in a special coronation and celebration in Waikiki. She replaced former Miss USA Noelia Voigt, who announced her resignation on May 6 [1b85e7c4].
Voigt's resignation came after she accused the organization of creating a toxic work environment and failing to address a sexual harassment incident she raised. Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, 17, also stepped down because her "personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization." Miss USA's social media manager Claudia Michelle also resigned, citing inconsistent communication and unprofessional management. The resignations have brought attention to the allegations of a toxic work environment within the Miss USA organization [1b85e7c4].
Savannah Gankiewicz, the new Miss USA, briefly addressed the allegations, expressing empathy for the former titleholders. She stated that she took the role as a job and a responsibility to make a positive impact in the organization. Gankiewicz will hold the title until August when her successor is crowned at the next Miss USA pageant [1b85e7c4].