Miss Finland finalist Mariangel Velasquez says that she faced discrimination in the autumn games.
Mariangel Velasquez competed in the Miss Finland final in September. Timur Yilmaz
Mariangel Velasquez, the 2025 Miss Finland finalist, talks about the racism she encountered in the pageant. Velasquez opens up about his experiences In the stories section of his Instagram accountwhose publications are viewable for 24 hours after publication.
Velasquez refers in his writing Sarah Dzafceenwho had to relinquish her Miss Finland crown on Thursday, December 11, as a result of racism.
– I have zero tolerance for racism and I have spoken openly about racism in Finland. The events of last week have awakened a lot of emotions in me, and my head has been completely messed up, writes Velasquez.
– It’s good that the organization intervened in the situation, because it should have been done immediately.
Velasquez, who was born in Venezuela and moved to Finland at the age of 13, writes that he had to face racism in different situations because of his immigrant background. Velasquez says that she also faced discrimination at the Miss Finland pageant.
– Many saw how broken I was immediately after the final. Some even filmed and laughed that “hehe, you’re crying because you didn’t win”. However, the truth was that I heard the reason that who I am and what I stand for influenced the choice. “You were the best at everything, but there are things you can’t change.” It hurt deeply because I can’t change the fact that I’m an immigrant walking towards my dreams. In that moment, I even wished I hadn’t been told anything, Velasquez writes in his Instagram stories.
Miss Finland finalist Mariangel Velasquez was born in Venezuela. Elle Laitila
Velasquez emphasizes in her update that the Miss Finland organization is not aware of and has nothing to do with the matter. Velasquez doesn’t blame Miss Boss either Sunneva Sjögren’swho, according to Velasquez, took good care of her and the other Miss Kokelians throughout the competition.
Instead, Velasquez implies that the racist comments were made by people who directly influenced the selection of Miss Finland.
– This matter is not related to them in any way, because they did not vote or make choices, says Velasquez, referring to the pageant organization.
– I wouldn’t have wanted to open this matter because it still hurts. I still think about the words every day: “I hope you apply again, and then there will be different people sitting there deciding.”
Velasquez says that she knew all along that she would not win the Miss Finland competition.
– When I then heard those “reasons”, my heart broke into pieces, and it still hurts. Because I can’t be born again in Finland. On the other hand, it feels like a relief that I’m finally talking about this. I never wanted to hear those reasons.
– Now is the time to no longer let anything irrelevant affect how we evaluate people, whether it’s about the workplace, sports or even a pageant. Competence is not about where you come from, what you believe in, or anything like that. It depends on competence, talent and what kind of person you are, writes Velasquez.
Miss Finland is chosen by a jury. This year’s jury was made up of ex-missi Anitra Ahtolaex-miss Essi Unkuriwellness coach Jutta Larmphotographer Nadi Hammouda and a social media influencer Henny Harjusola.
Sarah Dzafce (right) lost her crown on Thursday. Tara Lehtonen (on the left) was crowned as the new Miss Finland. Miss Sunneva Sjögren in the middle. Maarit Pohjanpalo
Sarah Dzafce, from Kosovo, was crowned Miss Finland 2025 in September. After Dzafce lost her title, the Miss Crown went to the first hereditary princess Tara Lehtonen.