Being different is hard for anyone. For Ariana Miyamoto, it is a little more difficult. Miyamoto was named the first biracial Miss Japan in March. She was born and raised in Japan, but when you look at her, you may think otherwise. She is biracial, referred to as a “Hafu” in Japan. Though Miyamoto grew up in Japan, speaks Japanese, and has lived in Japanese culture, many people in Japan believe she should not represent Japan because she does not look “Japanese enough.”

I am involved in pageants, and hearing these things being said about this beautiful woman hurts my heart. A panel of judges is not just looking at her appearance but her inner-beauty as well. She must be able to speak well. She must be knowledgeable about the world. She must be confident enough to walk across the stage in a bikini. Miyamoto obviously met and scored well in all the criteria to be named Miss Japan.

The panel of judges were all full-blooded Japanese. They looked like your typical Japanese person. They spoke with and judged many girls during the competition, but they felt that Miyamoto would best represent their country in the Miss Universe pageant. They obviously saw something in her that reflected how they want Japan to be represented. No matter her biracial status, she came out on top and was named Miss Japan deservedly.

Miyamoto did not want to enter the Miss Nagasaki pageant at first. However, she had a friend who had recently committed suicide that she wanted to stand up for. Her friend said that he hated being biracial because he did not have an identity and was faced with criticism daily. He wanted to be accepted into the Japanese culture. Miyamoto wanted to use that fuel to help change the face of Japan. She wanted to let everyone know that someone who may not look stereotypically Japanese, but is born and raised in Japan, is still Japanese. She wants the racial discrimination diminished. Miyamoto says, “She wants to represent the ‘new face’ of Japan.”

Miyamoto speaks about her culture to CBS News. "I sit on the floor, I take my shoes off when I go into the house, I use chopsticks -- I know nothing but a Japanese lifestyle," Miyamoto said. She also explains that biracial Japanese people like herself will only grow. “International marriages are happening, and there will be more biracial children," she said. "I want them to be as accepted in Japan as they would in the U.S.. I want society to get used to that idea."

Seeing 20-year-old Miyamoto speak would never lead you to believe she was bullied as a child. She says that in school, teachers would tell the students to hold hands. They would look at Miyamoto's hand but would not hold it, afraid that her black skin would rub off on them. “Don’t touch me,” they would say. She says they would not get in the pool with her, and some would even through garbage at her. Miyamoto said she was more than ready for the harsh criticism she got online.

To the people making a big deal over it, Miyamoto was obviously the best candidate. Would you rather have her, someone who has a good attitude, morals, and education and loves Japan with all of her heart and soul, or someone who may not be as educated, have decent morals, and love Japan as much as Miyamoto? My answer would obviously be option one.

Miyamoto worked just as hard, if not harder, than every other woman in the Miss Japan pageant, and that hard work paid off for her. She is a very beautiful woman and is handling all the negative criticism with grace. I certainly cannot wait to cheer her on at Miss Universe alongside our own Miss USA!

To see her speak about her experiences since being named Miss Japan, watch this short clip from Youtube.

There is so much more to be said about this topic, but I will leave it at that. Leave your comments below with your opinion! Vote on my poll: whether you think people’s negative criticism is appropriate, or if you think they are being way too harsh!