Ariana Miyamoto entered the Miss
Universe Japan beauty contest after a mixed-race friend committed suicide. And
she endured abuse after winning the crown because of her skin colour.
Far from being put off by the
backlash, Miyamoto resolved to use her new-found fame to help fight racial
prejudice — in much the same way British supermodel Naomi Campbell broke down
cultural barriers in the fashion industry a generation ago.
“I’m stubborn,” said Miyamoto, the
daughter of a Japanese mother and black American father, who turned 21 on
Tuesday.
“I was prepared for the criticism.
I’d be lying to say it didn’t hurt at all. I’m Japanese — I stand up and bow
when I answer the phone. But that criticism did give me extra motivation,” she
told AFP in an interview.
“I didn’t feel any added pressure
because the reason I took part in the pageant was my friend’s death. My goal
was to raise awareness of racial discrimination,” added Miyamoto, who was
bullied as a schoolgirl growing up in the port town of Sasebo, near Nagasaki.
“Now I have a great platform to
deliver that message as the first black Miss Universe Japan. It’s always hard
to be the first, so in that respect what Naomi Campbell did was really
amazing.”
Social media lit up after Miyamoto’s
victory in March, many critics complaining the title should have gone to what
they called a “pure” Japanese, rather than a “haafu” (the Japanese
pronunciation of “half”, a word used to describe mixed race).
Miyamoto, who turns heads in Japan
with her caramel skin and height of 1.73 m (5 ft 8 ins), admitted she has had
to toughen up.
“I used to get bullied as a kid but
I’ve got mentally stronger, to protect myself,” said the model, whose first
language is Japanese, screwing up her nose in mock horror when handed an
English menu by a waitress.
“When I was small I stood out and
always felt I had to fit in with everyone. I’d try not to bring attention to
myself, but now I say what I feel. I do things my own way.
“I want to start a revolution,”
Miyamoto added with a laugh. “I can’t change things overnight but in 100-200
years there will be very few pure Japanese left, so we have to start changing
the way we think.”
– ‘Shock of the new’ –
The hostility Miyamoto faced sits at
odds with a government-sponsored drive to promote the country overseas as “Cool
Japan” and entice foreign tourists for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Some point to the success of
mixed-race celebrities such as Rola — a model of Bengali, Japanese and Russian
descent — and half-British singer and actress Becky as proof of Japan’s
openness to change.
“It’s possible that some
conservative people might feel Ariana Miyamoto doesn’t fit the traditional
Japanese image to represent the country,” said psychologist Yoko Haruka, a
regular on Japanese TV.
“It’s just the shock of the new. But
she certainly has the chance to be a pioneer, and it’s an excellent opportunity
for Japan to become more globally aware.”
Miyamoto argues that any shift still
favours Caucasian or Eurasian lineage in an overwhelmingly homogenous country,
where multi-racial children make up just two percent of those born annually.
“In Japan there are hardly any black
models or TV personalities,” she said. “Most celebrities are like Rola or
Becky. Hopefully I can help create a Japan where anyone can make things
happen.”
Should Miyamoto win the Miss
Universe finals later this year, she would spend a year living in splendour at
New York’s Trump Towers — and her influence over issues close to her heart,
which also include gender identity disorder, would be greatly enhanced.
But despite her noble intentions,
Miyamoto has no plans to run for political office just yet.
“I’d like to use my position to
become a leader,” she smiled. “I’m like a sponge — always absorbing new things.
But I haven’t thought too deeply about politics yet. It’s still a bit early to
think about becoming Prime Minister!”
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