5 Quick Facts About the First Biracial Miss Japan- Ariyana Miyamoto

1) Ariyana Miyamoto made history this month as the first biracial Miss Universe Japan. The stunning beauty was born to a Japanese mother and African American father, making her “haafu”—the country’s term for half Japanese.

2) But in spite of her impressive accomplishments and pride in her nationality, Miyamoto has been receiving criticism around the web for not being Japanese enough. She told Japanese press that “while I don’t look ‘Japanese’ on the outside, on the inside, there are many Japanese things about me

3) Described in local media as a "saishoku kenbi," a woman blessed with both intelligence and beauty, she holds a 5th degree mastery of Japanese calligraphy.

4) The 20-year-old is a Japan native—the city of Nagasaki to be specific—and speaks Japanese fluently

5)  Ariyana lists her hobbies as cooking and “touring,” and she's a bit of a thrill seeker too - having obtained her motorcycle license recently. In an interview she revealed that the most influential person in her life is American pop-star Mariah Carey.

“She went through a lot of difficulties before becoming a popular singing sensation… She faced some racial hurdles, similar to myself, but she overcame them and became a top star, so she’s been a big influence on me.”

It's been a while since Miss Japan has had a Miss Universe winner - almost 8 years to be exact. Good luck to Ariyana, she will compete in the Miss Universe pageant in January of next year. I have a feeling she will do just fine!