The Greatest Finnish Women
Find out more about the greatest Finnish Women, including Tarja Turunen, Tove Jansson, Tarja Halonen, Olivia Merilahti and Kaija Saariaho.
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1
Sanna Marin(The 46th Prime Minister of Finland)
Birthdate: November 16, 1985
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
Finland’s 46th prime minister, Sanna Marin has also previously been the country’s minister of transport and communications. A Social Democratic Party member, she was dragged into a controversy after a video of her partying and dancing became viral in 2022, with critics accusing her of drug abuse.
2
Tarja Turunen(Finnish Heavy Metal Singer-Songwriter & Co-Founder of the Symphonic Metal Band 'Nightwish')
Birthdate: August 17, 1977
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kitee, Finland
Tarja Turunen is a Finnish singer-songwriter and an exponent of heavy metal. She is credited with co-founding the popular symphonic metal band Nightwish, where she peformed as the lead vocalist. The band's symphonic metal style, which was referred to as opera metal, inspired several other bands and performers.
3
Tove Jansson(Finnish Penwoman and the Author of the Children’s Book Series 'Moomin')
Birthdate: August 9, 1914
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Died: June 27, 2001
Finnish author Tove Jansson was the woman behind the phenomenally successful children’s books and comics on the fictional white hippo-like creatures she called Moomins. While the Moomins books have been translated into more than 50 languages, Jansson’s literary works also include several other novels and short stories.
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Pihla Viitala(Actress)
Birthdate: September 30, 1982
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
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Saara Aalto(Finnish Voice Actress, Singer, and Songwriter)
Birthdate: May 2, 1987
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Oulunsalo, Finland
Saara Aalto is a Finnish voice actress, singer, and songwriter. She achieved national prominence in 2012 when she finished second in the popular reality singing competition, The Voice of Finland. She gained international recognition in 2016 when she finished second in The X Factor UK. Saara Aalto represented her country at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest.
6
Armi Kuusela(Model)
Birthdate: August 20, 1934
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Muhos, Finland
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
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Tarja Halonen(The First Woman to be Finland's President)
Birthdate: December 24, 1943
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Finland’s 11th president, Tarja Halonen was also the first Finnish female politician to hold the post. Initially a lawyer at the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions, she stepped into politics as the parliamentary secretary of Finnish prime minister Kalevi Sorsa. She has also been Finland’s minister of justice and foreign affairs.
Birthdate: May 2, 1994
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Jakobstad, Finland
Sara Maria Forsberg is a Finnish singer, songwriter, and YouTube personality. She trained for a few years in a music academy in Jakobstad and began her career by posting videos on YouTube. In the mid-2010s, she signed to Capitol Records and released her debut single. She currently releases music as an independent artist.
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Irina Bjorklund(Actress)
Birthdate: February 7, 1973
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Danderyd Municipality, Sweden
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
10
Maria Ohisalo(Finnish Politician and Green League Leader)
Birthdate: March 8, 1985
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
Finland’s minister of the environment and climate change, Maria Ohisalo has also led her country as its minister of the interior. The Green League leader is also determined to eradicate poverty and homelessness, as she herself grew up amid poverty and had a tough childhood with an alcoholic father.
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Melina Keltaniemi(Finnish Bodybuilder)
Birthplace: Finland
12
Krista Kosonen(Actress)
Birthdate: May 28, 1983
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
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Vera Jordanova(Bulgarian-Finnish Model, Actress, and Cookbook Author)
Birthdate: August 28, 1975
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Vera Jordanova is a Bulgarian-Finnish model, actress, and cookbook author. She is best known for her portrayal of Axelle Rassimov in the 2007 American horror film Hostel: Part II. Vera Jordanova has also been featured on many popular magazines like Maxim, FHM, and Esquire.
14
Sara Chafak(Beauty pageant contestant)
Birthdate: October 25, 1990
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
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Li Andersson(Finnish Leftist Politician and Minister)
Birthdate: May 13, 1987
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Turku, Southwest Finland, Finland
Finnish Left Alliance politician Li Andersson serves as her country’s minister of education. A socialist feminist, she is also a member of Turku’s City Council. She has also been active in trade unions and has fought for human rights. She has previously led the youth wing of her party, Left Youth.
16
Minna Canth(Finnish Social Activist and Writer Best Known for Her Plays, 'The Pastor's Family' and 'The Worker's Wife')
Birthdate: March 19, 1844
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Tampere, Finland
Died: May 12, 1897
Minna Canth was a Finnish social activist and writer best remembered for her plays, The Pastor's Family and The Worker's Wife. Among her plays, Anna-Liisa has been adapted into films and operas for the most number of times. Minna Canth, who was ahead of her time, addressed issues of women's rights in her work.
17
Emilia Pikkarainen(Finnish Olympic Swimmer and National Record Holder)
Birthdate: October 11, 1992
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vantaa, Finland
Finnish swimmer Emilia Pikkarainen holds national records in several categories, such as the 50m butterfly and 100m butterfly. A 3-time Olympian, she was 15 when she participated in her first Olympic games. She was previously married to Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas, while her elder brother too is a competitive swimmer.
18
Mimosa Willamo(Actress)
Birthdate: 1994 AD
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
19
Johanna Kurkela(Singer)
Birthdate: April 25, 1985
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Lumijoki, Finland
20
Matleena Kuusniemi(Actress)
Birthdate: September 24, 1973
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Pusula, Finland
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
21
Anna Falchi(Model)
Birthdate: April 22, 1972
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Tampere, Finland
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
22
Lizzie Armanto(American-Finnish Skateboarder and First Female Skater to Ride the Loop)
Birthdate: January 26, 1993
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States
American-Finnish skateboarder Lizzie Armanto is not just a Nitro World Games gold medal winner but also has an X Games silver medal in her kitty. She was part of the Finnish national team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She was also the first female skater to ride the Loop ramp successfully.
23
Kaija Saariaho(One of the Most Prominent Finnish Composers)
Birthdate: October 14, 1952
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, based in Paris, France, had a profound shift in her artistic-direction from strict serialism towards spectralism after hearing spectral-music and conducting research at IRCAM. She has received several commissions from IRCAM including for the BBC; and also from Lincoln Center. She was named the greatest living composer in a 2019 composers' poll by BBC Music Magazine.
24
Alma (Finnish singer)(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: January 17, 1996
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kuopio, Finland
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
25
Kaisa Makarainen(Finnish 3-Time World-cup Winning Biathlete and Former World Champion)
Birthdate: January 11, 1983
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ristijärvi, Finland
Starting her career as a cross-country skier, Finnish athlete Kaisa Makarainen stepped into biathlon at age 20. Apart from being a 3-time Olympian, she has also been a World Champion and a 3-time World Cup winner. She is known for her speed in both shooting and skiing.
26
Jenni Haukio(Poet & the First Lady of Finland)
Birthdate: April 7, 1977
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Pori, Finland
Jenni Haukio is a Finnish poet best known as the wife of the popular politician and President Sauli Väinämö Niinistö. Haukio is currently the First Lady of Finland. In 1999, her first poetry collection won Runo-Kaarina, a national debut poet contest.
27
Olivia Merilahti(Finnish-French Singer and Founder of the Indie Rock Band 'The Dø')
Birthdate: February 25, 1982
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Paris, France
Finnish-French singer-composer Olivia Merilahti, a student of classical music gradually shifted her artistic direction towards rock music and then jazz and electronic music. She formed the Finnish-French indie pop band The Dø with multi-instrumentalist Dan Levy. First studio album of the band titled A Mouthful topped the French charts becoming the first English-sung pop French record to achieve such feat.
28
Pamela Tola(Actress)
Birthdate: October 15, 1981
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Ruotsinpyhtää, Finland
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
29
Jenni Dahlman(Model)
Birthdate: October 27, 1981
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Piikkiö, Finland
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
30
Helene Schjerfbeck(Finnish Modernist Painter Best Known for Her Self-Portraits and Realist Arts)
Birthdate: July 10, 1862
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland
Died: January 23, 1946
Modernist painter Helene Schjerfbeck is best-remembered for her realist-works and self-portraits, besides landscapes and still-lifes. She started with French-influenced realism and plein-air paintings and was later drawn towards portraits and still-life paintings. One of the most popular works of Schjerfbeck, whose birthday is celebrated in Finland as national day for the painted arts, is Dancing Shoes, done in Realist style.
31
Leena Peisa(Finnish Keyboard Player)
Birthdate: March 16, 1979
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Vantaa, Finland
Leena Peisa is a Finnish keyboard player who has played for famous bands like Lordi and Dolchamar. She is currently a part of Sampsa Astala & Qma, which was formed by Lordi's ex-drummer Kita. Leena Peisa is also renowned for playing an unearthly vampire countess named Awa, her on-stage persona while performing for Lordi.
32
Sirpa Lane(Actress)
Birthdate: 1952 AD
Birthplace: Turku, Finland
Died: 1999 AD
33
Sara Fabel(Model)
Birthdate: October 14, 1986
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
34
Laura Birn(Actress)
Birthdate: April 25, 1981
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
35
Tuulikki Pietila(One of the Most Influential People in Finnish Graphic Arts Known for Her Moomin Art)
Birthdate: February 18, 1917
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States
Died: February 23, 2009
American-born Finnish graphic artist Tuulikki Pietila was associated with the Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki, as an educator for years. She was openly lesbian and worked on many Moomin collaborations with her partner Tove Jansson. She also penned many graphic arts books and was later awarded the Pro Finlandia medal.
36
Paula Vesala(Finnish Singer-Songwriter and Former Member of the Pop Rock Duo 'PMMP')
Birthdate: December 10, 1981
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kärsämäki, Finland
Finnish singer-songwriter, actress, and playwright Paula Vesala formed the pop rock band PMMP with Mira Luoti. Vesala gained fame with success of the band that spawned hit albums like Kovemmat kädet and Leskiäidin tyttäret and singles like Oo siellä jossain mun before being disbanded. She later started her solo career and also composed songs for other popular Finnish artists. .
37
Pasha Pozdnyakova(Instagram Model)
Birthdate: April 15, 1999
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
38
Kati Outinen(Actress)
Birthdate: August 17, 1961
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
39
Karita Mattila(Singer)
Birthdate: September 5, 1960
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Perniö, Finland
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
40
Anu Sinisalo(Actress)
Birthdate: March 3, 1966
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
41
Sofi Oksanen(Finnish Playwright and Writer Best Known for Her Novel 'Purge')
Birthdate: January 7, 1977
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Jyväskylä, Finland
Sofi Oksanen is a Finnish playwright and writer. She is best known for her novel, Purge. Oksanen's works have been translated into over 40 languages and sold over two million copies worldwide. Over the course of her career, Sofi Oksanen has been honored with several prestigious awards, such as the Finlandia Prize, Mika Waltari Award, and Kalevi Jäntti Award.
42
Helly Luv(Singer)
Birthdate: November 16, 1988
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Urmia, Iran
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
43
Annika Saarikko(Deputy Prime Minister of Finland)
Birthdate: November 10, 1983
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Oripää, Southwest Finland, Finland
Annika Saarikko is a Finnish politician and the current Deputy Prime Minister of Finland as well as the Minister of Finance. A prominent political leader, Saarikko served as the Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services from 2017 to 2019. She also served as the Minister of Science and Culture on two occasions; in 2019 and from 2020 to 2021.
44
Taina Elg(Actress)
Birthdate: March 9, 1930
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
45
Mari Kiviniemi(The 41st Prime Minister of Finland)
Birthdate: September 27, 1968
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Seinäjoki, Finland
Finland’s 41st prime minister, Mari Kiviniemi was also the country’s second female politician to hold the post. She has previously led the Center Party as its leader and las also led Finland as its minister of public administration and foreign trade. She has also been associated with the OECD as its deputy secretary-general.
46
Katri Kulmuni(35th Deputy Prime Minister of Finland)
Birthdate: September 4, 1987
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Tornio, Finland
Finland’s 35th deputy prime minister, politician Katri Kulmuni has also led her country as its minister of finance and economic affairs. The Center Party leader had headed several governing boards, such as that of the World Bank. In 2020, she resigned from the ministry after being accused of spending public money on media training.
47
Elina Siirala(Founder & Front Woman of 'Angel Nation')
Birthdate: October 27, 1983
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Elina Siirala is a Finnish soprano best known as the front woman of the melodic metal band, Angel Nation. She is currently a part of the German symphonic metal band, Leaves' Eyes. Apart from releasing albums and singles, Elina Siirala also performs on stage. She is also known as the second cousin of musician and record producer, Tuomas Holopainen.
48
Elín Petersdóttir(Actress)
Birthdate: June 1, 1972
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Iceland
49
Laura Huhtasaari(Finns Party Politician and a Member of the European Parliament)
Birthdate: March 30, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Mänttä, Pirkanmaa, Finland
Finns Party politician Laura Huhtasaari, who has been a Finnish MP for Satakunta, has also represented Finland as a Member of the European Parliament. Initially an elementary and special education teacher, she stepped into politics as a member of the City Council of Pori. She has previously been accused of plagiarizing her MSc. thesis.
50
Aino Aalto(Prominent Architect and a Pioneer of Scandinavian Design who Co-founded the 'Artek' Design Company)
Birthdate: January 25, 1894
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
Died: January 13, 1949
Prominent Finnish architect and designer Aino Aalto considered a pioneer of Scandinavian design, co-founded Artek design company with her architect husband, Alvar Aalto and others. She served as its first creative director and collaborated on most of its famous designs. It has been discovered that work of the Viipuri Library, which typifies 1920s functionalist architectural design, was completed by her.
