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Miss Japan won by half Indian elephant trainer, Priyanka Yoshikawa

sergel

By sergel
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sergel Global Superstar

sergel

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Didn't see an article on this; might have missed it. Not sure if it's the best section either, but here you go.

 

A half-Indian woman has been crowned Miss Japan, the second year in a row a biracial person has won the beauty pageant.

Priyanka Yoshikawa, 22 and who also has an elephant training licence, said she would use her win to "change perceptions".

Last year's Miss Japan, Ariana Miyamoto was the first mixed-race person to win the pageant.

Critics complained then that a "pure" Japanese should have won.

Only about 2% of babies born every year in Japan are biracial, or "haafu", the Japanese word for half.

_91037462_gettyimages-473021500.jpgImage copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionMiss Japan 2015 Ariana Miyamoto faced a backlash after she became the first "haafu" to win the beauty pageant

"We are Japanese," Ms Yoshikawa told AFP news agency. "Yes, my dad is Indian and I'm proud of it, I'm proud that I have Indian in me. But that doesn't mean I'm not Japanese."

She credited her win to Ms Miyamoto, saying she had helped show "mixed girls the way".

"Before Ariana, haafu girls couldn't represent Japan," said Ms Yoshikawa. "That's what I thought too. Ariana encouraged me a lot by showing me and all mixed girls the way.

"I know a lot of people who are haafu and suffer," she said. "When I came back to Japan, everyone thought I was a germ."

"Like if they touched me they would be touching something bad. But I'm thankful because that made me really strong."

Indians say 'get over it': Geeta Pandey, BBC News, Delhi _91037460_gettyimages-599446908.jpgImage copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionThe pageant winner is also an avid kick-boxer and has an elephant trainer's license

A few years ago, a woman of Indian descent, Nina Davuluri, faced Twitter abuse after being crowned Miss America. Some called her an "Arab", some a "terrorist", and some an "Arab terrorist". Indians, in large numbers, came to her defence.

Now, Ms Yoshikawa is being criticised for having an Indian father and some Indians have taken to social media to advise the Japanese to "get over it". One Twitter user said she won because she "must have deserved it" while another said "after Gautam Buddha, Ms Yoshikawa is the only Indian to make it big in Japan".

In Ms Yoshikawa's case - as in Ms Davuluri's before her - the biggest complaint seems to be the "lack of purity". But some are wondering whether this debate over purity has any relevance in today's globalised world.

As one Twitter user said: "Talent cannot be controlled or ruled by caste, colour, gender or country of origin."

The pageant winner, also an avid kick-boxer and qualified elephant trainer, said that she hoped to change perceptions.

"When I'm abroad, people never ask me what mix I am. As Miss Japan, hopefully I can help change perceptions so that it can be the same here too."

'I feel Japanese'

Ms Yoshikawa's win did not trigger the backlash that Ms Miyamoto received on social media.

There were however, several on Twitter that expressed unhappiness.

_91037569_twee.pngImage copyrightTWITTER/@MISS_PRIYANKA20Image captionMs Yoshikawa took to her own Twitter account to thank her fans

"It's like we're saying a pure Japanese face can't be a winner," said one user.

"What's the point of holding a pageant like this now? Zero national characteristics," another complained.

Ms Yoshikawa however, was not letting the doubters get to her.

"There was a time as a kid when I was confused about my identity," she said. "But I've lived in Japan so long now I feel Japanese."

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37283518

 

____________________________________

 

(CNN)Many beauty queens boast creative resumes. But it's rare to come across one that holds a license in elephant training.

Priyanka Yoshikawa, a half-Indian, half-Japanese beauty pageant contestant does, however. She was crowned Miss Japan 2016 Monday, becoming only the second biracial beauty queen in the country's history.
Born to an Indian father and a Japanese mother in Tokyo, the 22-year-old's big win came just a year after Ariana Miyamoto, a half-black, half Japanese woman, won the title of Miss Universe Japan 2015. Miyamoto was the first Japanese person of mixed race to win a major beauty pageant in a largely racially homogenous country, and she received a firestorm of negative comments after she was crowned.
160906145659-04miss-world-exlarge-169.jp
 
Priyanka Yoshikawa (fifth from right) poses with other Miss World Japan contestants.
But Miyamoto's victory encouraged others to follow in her footsteps.
"I don't know Ariana in person, but I've been a big fan of her. She has inspired me to win the competition," Yoshikawa told CNN.
After Yoshikawa's win on Monday, social media commentators have been mostly supportive.
Some wished her fame, others are proud that she is representing Japan in the Miss World competition in Washington, DC this December.
160906145720-05miss-world-exlarge-169.jp
 
Yoshikawa is a half-Indian, half-Japanese elephant trainer
However, some responded negatively. "Can't racially pure Japanese apply?' asked oneTwitter user.
Yoshikawa, who has spent stints in the US and India, said that when she moved back to Japan from her travels abroad, sometimes people would ask her about her origins.
"If I was in India, people wouldn't ask," she told CNN.
160906171456-08miss-world-medium-plus-16
 
Priyanka Yoshikawa with her parents as a toddler.
The beauty queen, however, hasn't let any negative comments or overly inquisitive questions get her down. She told CNN that she felt that both Japan and the world were becoming more diverse.
Tomoko Morikawa, director of the Miss World Japan Office, told CNN that Japanese beauty standards are changing, and that Yoshikawa had been chosen this year based on both her looks and contribution to society.
"We have not received any critical comment on her so far. She is bilingual and international, she is a totally suitable person represent Japan on the world stage," said Morikawa
 
 

 

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DocumentaLy Nation's First Love

DocumentaLy

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Shes gorgeous but I feel like Japan is trying to fit what the Miss Universe pageant likes than looking for a represent for Japan. Like having a haafu once in a while is nice because there's definitely a haafu culture in Japan, but that's already twice in a row.

 

I agree. And if they were going to pick a haafu, and least pick a nice looking one like Ariana. This girl just ain't it.

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bzz Global Superstar

bzz

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Many beauty queens boast creative resumes. But it's rare to come across one that holds a license in elephant training.

Of course, since such license isn't issued elsewhere in the world. Japan and Korea are such license obsessive nations.

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