Karolina Shiino has stepped down from her position as Miss Japan following revelations of her involvement with a married man.
The Ukraine-born beauty pageant winner, who made history as the first woman of European descent to claim the title on January 22, faced criticism for not being perceived as “Japanese enough” to represent the country’s beauty.
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Amid the ensuing controversy, local magazine Shukan Bunshun exposed the 26-year-old’s affair with a married man. Initially, pageant organizers defended Shiino, stating she had ended the relationship upon discovering the man’s marital status.
However, on Monday, Miss Japan organizers disclosed that Shiino had admitted to knowing about the man’s marriage but continued the relationship. Consequently, she apologized for misleading information, leading to the acceptance of her resignation.
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Shiino, through her Instagram page, expressed remorse, attributing her actions to fear and panic in response to the reports. The Miss Japan title will remain vacant for the remainder of the year, as announced by the organizers.
Born in Ukraine and later becoming a naturalized Japanese citizen in 2022, Shiino’s resignation marks the end of a chapter in her pageant journey.
