A half-Indian with an elephant trainer’s licence was crowned Miss Japan on Monday, striking a blow to those demanding a ‘pure’ Japanese pageant queen. “Before Ariana, haafu girls couldn’t represent Japan,” Yoshikawa said after her exotic Bollywood looks helped sweep her to the title. Priyanka Yoshikawa walks during the Miss World Japan 2016 Beauty Pageant in Tokyo on September 5, 2016. “As Miss Japan, hopefully I can help change perceptions so that it can be the same here too. The number of people with mixed race is only going to increase, so people have to accept it.”Priyanka Yoshikawa smiles as she holds the trophy after winning the Miss Japan title during the Miss World Japan 2016 Beauty Pageant in Tokyo on September 5, 2016.

Source: Hindustan Times September 05, 2016 13:20 UTC