Winner of Miss Japan gives up title after admitting to having an affair

26-year-old Karolina Shiino, originally from Ukraine, has relinquished her title as Miss Japan after a tabloid report exposed her affair with a married man. The controversy arose shortly after her win, as some argued that she did not embody the conventional Japanese beauty ideals, despite being a naturalized citizen. In response to the public debate, a local magazine published an article claiming that Ms. Shiino had engaged in a relationship with a married influencer and doctor. While the man involved has remained silent on the matter, the initial response from pageant organizers defended Ms. Shiino, stating that she was unaware of his marital status. However, they reversed their stance on Monday, acknowledging that she had confessed to knowing about the man's marriage and family. Ms. Shiino then apologized to her supporters and the public for her misleading actions, expressing regret and acknowledging that fear and panic had motivated her response to the report. The Miss Japan Association accepted her resignation, leaving the title empty for the remainder of the year, although there were several runners-up. Karolina Shiino, who was born in Ukraine and moved to Japan with her mother at the age of five, adopted her step-father's Japanese surname. Fluent in both spoken and written Japanese, she became a naturalized citizen in 2022. When crowned Miss Japan on January 22nd, she stated during her speech, "I have faced rejection as a Japanese person many times, but I am grateful to finally be recognized as a Japanese today."