Karolina Shiino, Miss Japan from Ukraine, handed up her beauty pageant title after a local magazine revealed her alleged affair with a married influencer.

An article in the Shukan Bunshun magazine confirmed her relationship with a married influencer and doctor.

Initially, pageant organizers defended Ms. Shiino’s name, stating that she was unaware of his marriage.

However, on Monday, February 5, the organisers admitted that the Japanese model had made a surprising revelation about knowing the doctor’s marriage and family.

Shiino also apologized for her deceptive tactics in a public statement on the same day she made the confession and resigned.

The 26-year-old model confessed in an Instagram post: “I am truly sorry for the huge trouble I have caused and for betraying those who supported me.”

The Ukrainian-born model seized the lead after defeating multiple runner-ups in the competition, but the Miss Japan title will now go unclaimed for the year.

After Shiino was proclaimed champion, some people celebrated her victory, while others criticized it, arguing that it did not “represent” Japanese beauty standards.