Ukraine-born Karolina Shiino created quite a stir after she was crowned Miss Japan 2024. Her win was opposed by people who claimed she didn't represent traditional Japanese beauty ideals. She has now returned her crown after a report revealed her affair with a married man. Amidst the debate over the beauty pageant organisation crowning Shiino as Miss Japan 2024, a local magazine Shukan Bunshun called attention to her alleged affair with a married man, The Japan Times reported. The report revealed that Shiino was in a relationship with a married doctor, Takuma Maeda. Following the article, the pageant organisers came out her in support, citing her lack of awareness of his marital status. Later, it was revealed that she knew about his marriage. On Monday, Shiino released a public apology on Instagram, following which the Miss Japan Association accepted her resignation. Sharing the statement on social media, she wrote in Japanese, "We would like to deeply apologize for the inconvenience caused to Mr. Maeda's wife, family, and everyone involved. There were some discrepancies in what I explained to my agency the other day. Confusion and fear made it impossible to speak the truth. I am truly sorry for conveying something that is not true to everyone who believed in me and supported me. I take this situation seriously and have declined the Miss Japan Grand Prix." "I also asked my agency to be removed from my affiliation, and it was accepted. We are truly sorry for the inconvenience this has caused and for betraying everyone who has supported us," she added. Take a look at Shiino's Instagram post: In her winning speech at the Miss Japan Gran Prix pageant, Shiino had said, "I've had to face barriers that often prevent me from being accepted as Japanese, so I am filled with gratitude to be recognised at this competition as a Japanese person."
