An Indo-Japanese girl Priyanka Yoshikawa with an Indian father and a Japanese mother was crowned Miss Japan. The 22-year-old Yoshikawa's victory comes year after Ariana Miyamoto faced an ugly backlash for becoming the first black woman to represent Japan.

AFP reported, Ms. Yoshikawa said that, "Before Ariana, haafu girls, the Japanese for "half", a word used to describe mixed race couldn't represent Japan."

"That's what I thought too. I didn't doubt it or challenge it until this day. Ariana encouraged me a lot by showing me and showing all mixed girls the way," she said.

She was born to an Indian father and a Japanese mother in Tokyo. "I think it means we have to let it in," she said when asked what it signified for her and Miyamoto to break down cultural barriers.

"We are Japanese. Yes, I'm half Indian and people are asking me about my 'purity' yes, my dad is an Indian and I'm proud of it, I'm proud that I have Indian in me. But that does not mean I'm not Japanese."

Ms. Yoshikawa said that, "I know a lot of people who are haafu and suffer." "We have problems, we've been struggling and it hurts. When I came back to Japan, everyone thought I was a germ," she added. "Like, if they touched me they would be touching something bad. But I'm thankful because that made me really strong."

"When I'm abroad, people never ask me what mix I am," said Ms. Yoshikawa, who earned her elephant trainer's license recently.

"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."

"There was a time as a kid when I was confused about my identity," she admitted. "But I've lived in Japan so long now I feel Japanese."

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Nandini