Ariana Miyamoto

Ariana Mamiko Miyamoto (宮本・エリアナ・磨美子, Miyamoto Eriana Mamiko, born 12 May 1994 in Nagasaki) is a Japanese model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2015. She represented Japan at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant,^[1] but after her victory she faced some criticism on social media for not appearing to be Japanese; she is the first hāfu (multiracial) woman to be Miss Japan.^[2][3]

Early life and education

Miyamoto was born to a Japanese mother and an African American father, Bryant Stanfield, who was stationed at a United States Navy base in Sasebo.^[4] She attended elementary school in Japan and, at age 13, emigrated 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 that of a bartender.^{[5][6][7][8][9]}

In 2015, Miyamoto won the title of Miss Nagasaki and represented her prefecture at the Miss Universe Japan contest.^{[10][11][12][13]}

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 winners of Miss Universe and Mister Japan 2015 (Junpei Watanabe of Akita) will compete at the Miss Universe and Mister International competitions.^{[14][15][16][17]}

Miss Universe 2015

As Miss Japan 2015, Miyamoto competed at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant.^[18] where she made it to the Top 10.

References

External links

• Miss Universe Japan