When 26-year-old Karolina Shiino won last month, it sparked a national discussion about her European ancestry.
Just two weeks ago, Karolina Shiino won the beauty pageant, which sparked a public discussion over her background in Japan.
Opinions throughout the nation were split: while some hailed her coronation as a representation of multiculturalism, others charged that the competition was favoring “Western beauty standards”.
She was accused of having an affair with a married doctor and influencer in a piece published in the Japanese magazine Shukan Bunshun during the incident.
The man in question has not yet responded to the accusations in the media.
In its first reaction to the story published last week, Miss Japan Association stood up for Ms. Shiino, claiming she was uninformed of the man’s marriage.
On Monday, though, the pageant’s organizers announced that she had admitted to being aware of the man’s marital status and apologized for deceiving them.
Then she gave up her throne.
In a statement, Ms. Shiino also expressed her regret to her followers and the general public, stating that the news had caused her to act out of fear and terror.
“I am truly sorry for the huge trouble I have caused and for betraying those who supported me,” she stated.
This means that the Miss Japan title will stay empty for a full year until the following pageant.
