Ariana Miyamoto

Ariana Mamiko Miyamoto (宮本・エリアナ・磨美子, Miyamoto Eriana Mamiko, born 12 May 1994) is a Japanese model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2015. She represented Japan at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant and was placed Top 10.

The native form of this personal name is Miyamoto Eriana Mamiko. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Ariana Miyamoto
Born (1994-05-12) 12 May 1994
Nagasaki, Japan
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
TitleMiss Universe Japan 2015
Beauty pageant titleholder
Hair colorBlack
Eye colorBrown
Major
competition(s)		Miss Universe Japan 2015
(Winner)
Miss Universe 2015
(Top 10)

Early life and education

Miyamoto was born to a Japanese mother and African American father, Bryant Stanfield, who was stationed at a United States Navy base in Sasebo.[2] Miyamoto's parents divorced when she was one year old.[3] She attended elementary school in Japan and, at age 13, immigrated to the United States to live with her father in Jacksonville, Arkansas, where she attended Jacksonville High School for two years. Upon return to her native Japan, she did not immediately complete high school, but worked odd jobs, including bartender.[4][5][6][7]

In 2015, Miyamoto won the title of Miss Nagasaki and represented her prefecture at the Miss Universe Japan contest.[8][9]

Discrimination
See also: Ethnic issues in Japan

Miyamoto recalled, "Whenever the teacher told us to hold hands, other children thought my black skin would rub off on them, so they said, 'Don't touch me'".[10] Some of her classmates in Sasebo, Nagasaki would say things like, "Don't swim in the same pool 'cause your skin will rub off on me."[11] Miyamoto was shunned due to her skin color and curly hair as she grew up in Japan.[12] Parents and classmates used the term kurombo (a racist expression) to refer to her.[12]

After her victory, she encountered some people disapproving of her win, mostly in the form of online social media, for not being of typical Japanese appearance; she is the first hāfu (multiracial) woman to be Miss Japan.[13][14]

Career

Miss Universe Japan 2015

On 12 March 2015, Miyamoto was crowned as Miss Universe Japan 2015 (Miss Japan 2015) at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo in Bunkyō-ku, while Miss Oita and Miss Chiba were the runners-up. The winner of Miss Universe usually competes at the Miss Universe. At Miss Universe 2015 she made it to Top 10.[15][16][17][18]

Miss Universe 2015

As Miss Japan 2015, Miyamoto competed at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant[19] where she made it to the Top 10. Before Miyamoto's placement, Japan placed in the top 15 last in 2008 with Hiroko Mima.

References
  1. "Miss Universe 2015: Ariana Miyamoto". missuniverse.com. IMG Universe. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  2. Kirk Spitzer (May 30, 2015). "Beauty queen fights racial bias in Japan". USA Today. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  3. Wofford, Taylor. (2015). A half-black Japanese beauty queen is raising eyebrows - but will she change minds? Newsweek. Retrieved June 25, 2017, from link.
  4. Peter Holley (March 20, 2015). "Why some critics think Japan's Miss Universe contestant isn't Japanese enough". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 24, 2015. Miyamoto, who grew up in Japan but moved to the United States for high school, has cited Mariah Carey as a major inspiration because of the singer’s multiracial background...
  5. Audrey Akcasu (March 15, 2015). "Half-Japanese beauty chosen to represent Japan at Miss Universe 2015". RocketNews24. Retrieved March 24, 2015. After junior high graduation in Sasebo, she spent her high school years studying in the US. Upon returning to Japan as a young adult she set her sights on becoming a model.
  6. Martin Fackler (May 29, 2015). "Biracial Beauty Queen Challenges Japan's Self-Image". The New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2015. She said everything changed at age 13 when she decided to reach out to her father, who invited her to his home in Jacksonville, Ark.
  7. "Arkansas Times - April 16, 2015 by Arkansas Times". issuu. 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  8. "Ariana Miyamoto, first biracial Miss Japan, brings light to racial issues in her country". cbsnews.com. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  9. "Multiracial Miss Universe Japan Symbolizes The Country's Transformation". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  10. Beauty queen brings light to Japan's racial issues. (2015). CBS This Morning. Retrieved June 25, 2017, from link.
  11. Nagata, Masatoshi. (2015). Not Japanese Enough? Miss Universe Japan looks to fight prejudice. Nichi Bei. Retrieved June 25, 2017, from link.
  12. Wesby, Maya. (2015). Japan's problem with race. Newsweek. Retrieved July 25, 2017, from link.
  13. "The First Multiracial Miss Universe Japan Has Been Crowned". NBC News. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  14. "Multiracial Miss Japan hopes to change homeland's thinking on identity". Reuters. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  15. "Miss Japan 2015: Ariana Miyamoto Coronation". missosology.info. missosology.info. 12 March 2015.
  16. "From a minstrel no-show to a black beauty queen, in a week". The Japan Times. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  17. "Miss Universe Japan Ariana Miyamoto Criticized for Not Being Japanese Enough : People.com". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  18. "Miss Universe Japan Facing Backlash at Home From Those Who Object to Biracial Beauty Queen Taking the Crown: Get the Details". E! Online. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  19. "A Hafu Japanese woman at Miss Universe 2015". PageantsNews.com. 15 May 2015.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Keiko Tsuji		 Miss Universe Japan
2015		 Succeeded by
Sari Nakazawa
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