A young Black woman who was subjected to racist abuse after being selected to lead celebrations of a Swedish festival of light in Helsinki has received an apology from the Finnish prime minister.
According to the Swedish tradition, each year a young woman or girl is chosen to represent Saint Lucia by dressing in a costume of a white gown, red waistband and crown of candles as part of the official annual festivities in Finland at the Lutheran Cathedral on 13 December to mark the shortest day according to the Julian calendar.
About 5% of people in Finland, which until 1809 was part of Sweden, speak Swedish as their native language, which is one of two national languages in the Nordic country.
Daniela Owusu, 20, who is Finnish Ghanaian, received thousands of hate messages after on Friday becoming Finland’s first Black Lucia. The organisers have reported the abuse to police and the discrimination ombudsman and are considering taking legal action.
I remember when Lola Odusoga was Finland’s first black Miss Finland in 1996 and there were some* racism back then (*but internet wasnt still huge). I think it calmed a bit when Lola did well in Miss Universe competition. She was 3rd. Since then Miss Finland has been won by Sara Chafak (half moroccan), Shirly Karvinen (half chinese) and Alina Voronkova (Russian and Ingrian Finn). Alina got lot of heat in the internet because many didnt like her Russian name. Last year St. Lucia maiden Finland was a Finn with Italian roots and with Italian name. No criticism. But somehow black skin and russian name activates these idiot rednecks.