As Scandal Grows Over Married Doctor's Affair... Ukrainian-born Mis Japan Returns Crown

Male side "Karolina did not know she was married"
Vacant Miss Japan title this year due to resignation

Karolina Shino (26), originally from Ukraine and who gained attention by winning the 56th Miss Japan Contest, a Japanese beauty pageant, voluntarily relinquished her 'Miss Japan' crown following a scandal involving an affair with a married man. On the 5th, local media including the Sankei Shimbun reported that the Miss Japan Association, which organizes the Miss Japan Contest, issued a statement announcing that Shino had returned the grand prize.

Shino's voluntary resignation as Miss Japan appears to be due to a recent report by the Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun (週刊文春) alleging that she had an extramarital affair with a married doctor influencer. The magazine reported that Shino had been involved in an affair for three years with Takuma Maeda, a 40-something cosmetic surgeon known as the 'muscle doctor.' The article also included photos of the two holding hands while walking. Initially, Shino's agency claimed that she ended the relationship after learning the man was married.

Karolina Shino (26), originally from Ukraine, who gained attention by winning the 56th Miss Japan Contest, a Japanese beauty pageant.
[Photo by Karolina Shino Instagram]

However, the agency later changed its stance, stating, "Shino began dating Maeda after he explained to her that he was a divorced man. However, during the relationship, she became aware that Maeda was still married but continued the relationship nonetheless." Shino posted an apology on her Instagram, saying, "There were inaccuracies in the explanation I gave to my agency. I lied out of confusion and fear." She added, "I have taken responsibility for this incident by resigning from the Miss Japan grand prize and terminating my contract with the agency." She also apologized sincerely, saying, "I deeply regret causing a great disturbance and betraying those who supported me."

Maeda, who was involved in the affair, also addressed the issue on his social media, stating, "There are some exaggerated and misleading aspects in the reports," and confirmed, "It is true that I dated and met with Karolina for a while." However, he added, "I did not hide the fact that I was married when trying to get close to Karolina. When I decided not to pursue a divorce, she said she would no longer meet me, and we broke up."

Shino acquired Japanese nationality in 2022 and is currently active as a model. Although both of her parents are originally Ukrainian, her mother remarried a Japanese man after a divorce, and Shino was raised in Japan from a young age. On the official Miss Japan website, she introduced herself as "a naturalized Japanese with roots in Ukraine," explaining, "While I may look foreign, I have grown up in Japan since I was about five years old, so my core identity is Japanese." After winning the Miss Japan pageant, Shino expressed her gratitude, saying, "Until now, there have been barriers of race, and I was not fully accepted as Japanese, but I am thankful to be recognized as Japanese," which also attracted attention.