Japan officially crowned Carolina Shiino as Miss Japan on January 22, 2024, making her the historical winner of the beauty pageant for multiple reasons. At 26 years old, Shiino is the oldest woman ever to win the Miss Japan Grand Prix title. Moreover, she holds the distinction of being the first naturalized Japanese citizen to achieve this honor.
Born in Ternopil, Ukraine, in 1998, Shiino moved to Nagoya, Japan, at the age of five when her mother married a Japanese man. She acquired Japanese citizenship in 2022, following the naturalization law, which requires residing in the country for five consecutive years and being over the age of 20.
In her victory speech, Shiino expressed the significance of her win for herself and other naturalized Japanese citizens. Despite being proficient in Japanese language and culture, she shared her experiences of feeling inadequate, and winning the pageant marked a moment of acceptance as a Japanese person.
However, Shiino’s victory has sparked controversy and discussions about racial diversity and tension in Japan. Online reactions from some Japanese citizens questioned her representation of the beauty standard for Miss Japan, arguing that she does not look Japanese. This echoes similar debates when previous biracial individuals, such as Ariana Miyamoto (Japanese-African American) and Priyanka Yoshikawa (half-Indian, half-Japanese), were crowned Miss Japan in previous years.
Critics argue that since Shiino is not ethnically Japanese, she should not be eligible for the title. Additionally, there are opinions suggesting that her win might be viewed as a political statement amid the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The complexities surrounding the acceptance of individuals like Shiino, Miyamoto, and Yoshikawa as representatives of Japan highlight broader discussions about national identity and what it means to be Japanese. Despite the controversies, Shiino’s victory and her ensuing career have played a role in fostering her confidence and asserting her place as a Japanese person.
