Sopha Dopha: Aussie influencer, All For Mimi business owner accused of appropriating Asian culture in Japan

An Australian influencer and business owner has been grilled amid claims of cultural appropriation during her holiday to Japan.

The internet unleashed at All For Mimi founder Sophia Begg, known online as Sopha Dopha, after she posted a series of photos capturing her first day in Tokyo to her Instagram.

Begg can be seen posing against a vending machine sporting a polka dot bandana, bright pink shorts and a baggy white t-shirt branded with Japanese characters “Suki” which translates to “like” or “love.”

Subsequent photos show Begg and her two friends, including employee Bailey White, indulging in matcha and ramen while exploring the city.

The 21-year old’s post also featured Chinese rapper SKAI ISYOURGOD’s song Blueprint Supreme playing over the top.

With a following of more than 660,000 on the platform, critics were quick to unload on the TikTok star.

“This honestly reflects white privilege on another level… being able to pick and choose parts of someone else’s culture for aesthetic without needing to understand or respect it. Meanwhile, we as Asians grow up being shamed or mocked for these same things. It’s not just a song or a vibe, it’s a lived culture, and treating it like a trend is harmful,” one person wrote.

“Look good but it’s giving racism,” said another.

A third added: “The casual racism is sending me LMAO.”

Many of the people unhappy with Begg’s upload took issue with the song choice given it is in Mandarin and is not by a Japanese musician.

“Girl I love you but please the song isn’t even in Japanese,”

“You should change the song or remove it. its not even Japanese,”

Despite calls for the influencer to remove the audio from the post, Begg has not taken it down or responded to the negative comments.