A Helsinki man has been charged with defaming Daniela Owusu, who was voted Finland's Lucia maiden in 2024.
According to an application filed with Helsinki District Court, a man in his seventies is suspected of defaming Owusu in December 2024.
The case sits within a broader pattern of abuse.
Owusu is reported to have received more than a hundred racist comments and private messages, alongside thousands of similar posts that circulated on social media.
The harassment also extended to Owusu's family members.
Three individuals have already been referred for consideration of charges, while decisions regarding two others remain pending.
Owusu's father is from Ghana while her mother is Finnish. She was the first non-white person to be selected as Finland's Lucia. After her selection, Owusu said she wanted to be a role model for young people and to show that anyone could become a Lucia, regardless of their background.
St Lucia Day is an annual traditional ceremony in which a young woman — chosen by public vote — dons a wreath carrying candles on 13 December. The day has Catholic and Orthodox origins and is widely celebrated as a festival of light, as Lucia means 'light' and the celebration falls at the darkest point of the year.
