After Salkkarein, Kerttu Rissanen fell into the blue and created the career of his dreams.
Kerttu Rissanen initially came to the public when he was only 17 years old, when he became one Encrypted Lives about the actors of the series.
Jumping into a public profession as a minor brought surprising challenges to life. Rissanen’s appearance got under the viewers’ magnifying glass, which made the young actor’s head spin.
– Now I mostly laugh at the comments we received. But I do remember that I started to lose weight after that.
Challenges with body image led to orthorexia-like behavior. At one point, Rissanen led group exercise for up to 20 hours a week, and did not eat enough or well enough for the amount of exercise.
Thoughts revolve a lot around appearance.
– I always had the thought in my head that I could look even better and stronger, and eat even better, says Rissanen.
The now 30-year-old Rissanen says that his years in the public eye have taught him that you can’t always please everyone. If she tried to modify her own body according to every social media comment or trend, it would be an endless swamp.
– Even at the moment, there is such a trend that one should be really thin. That’s pretty toxic to me, too. A while ago there was supposed to be a big butt, and now it’s not. You can never please everyone. How would we all learn that the most important thing is that you are comfortable in your own body, says Rissanen.
Kerttu Rissanen doesn’t understand what makes people comment negatively on social media. Inka Soveri
Rissanen doesn’t regret going into public work, and publicity alone wasn’t planting thoughts in Rissanen’s head. They came to life much earlier. Rissanen is amazed by how even elementary students know how to talk about their own bodies ugly.
– I remember that it was quite normal in my circle of friends that we compared each other’s thighs. I don’t know where it came from that I had to talk to myself so ugly.
If Rissanen receives nasty social media comments today, they will no longer be able to damage his body image. The meaning of the body is different for Rissan today. As a sports professional, the body is Rissanen’s most important tool, which he wants to keep strong and healthy. Weight doesn’t matter.
– I don’t think I would be happier if I lost two kilos, Rissanen says and hopes that young women won’t feel inadequate because of social media.
Kerttu Rissanen thinks that appearance pressure and mental health challenges need to be talked about more in public. Inka Soveri
Collapse of income
Rissanen has been working for almost 10 years so that he is now known as a professional in the sports industry.
As said before, Rissanen is also known as a former actor of the series Salatut elämät. Rissanen and his character Sanni left the series in 2020.
– It was wonderful to be in Salkkare, but I felt that I had to open my wings and follow myself, Rissanen says.
The decision was brave, because there was no other plan.
– Everyone asked, what are you going to do now, that you don’t have any kind of backup plan, Rissanen recalls.
Rissanen literally fell flat on the ground financially as well. He states that life at that time was nowhere near the kind of glamor that can be seen on social media.
– Money has never been super important to me, but I want that money to be enough that I don’t have to think about returning the bottles to the store. I’ve been in that situation too and I’ve actually returned bottles to the store for a while. When I left Salkkari, I was completely empty. Revenues plummeted after that.
Nowadays, there is no need to stress about work. The situation today is that Rissa is asked for many work projects. A lot has been done for that, and Rissanen still doesn’t take anything for granted. In 2022, the turnover of Rissanen’s company was more than 100,000 euros.
Bottles no longer need to be returned to the store.
– I have never had such a goal that I would like to be a millionaire. The sports industry is quite poorly paid and you have to work quite a lot for the income. I have thought many times whether it would be worth doing something else.
– Then I come back to the idea that I want to do what makes me happy. It’s enough that I can earn a salary that allows me to live normally, Rissanen reflects.
Kerttu Rissanen dreamed of a new career in sports and managed to achieve it with hard work. Inka Soveri
Relationship dreams
Rissanen is currently single and has not dated recently. In his opinion, you have to have the right attitude when dating, and his focus has recently been elsewhere. Recently, Rissanen has focused on his career and his own well-being.
– However, it has been liberating that I am happy, even if there is no one next to me. Happiness is not always based on a relationship, but on being at peace with yourself, says Rissanen.
– I haven’t wanted to date by force if it doesn’t feel good to me, says Rissanen.
Kerrtu Rissanen doesn’t say no to slanderous dating apps. Inka Soveri
When the right person is found, Rissanen would be ready to make sacrifices in his own life, such as compromising his schedule for the sake of a relationship. He demands the same from his dream partner. Rissanen hopes that the partner would be ready to invest in the relationship.
– It somehow feels that people give up really easily these days. Let’s meet someone and can’t wait to finish looking at the card. Of course, you have to follow your heart, but if I start a relationship, I’m ready to work for it.
Rissanen says that all kinds of relationship games can also be left at this point in life. Now there is room in love life for direct speech and mutual respect.
Kerttu Rissanen dreams of having her own family in the future. Inka Soveri
Future plans also include children. Plans for the near future include balance and possibly also a private yard.
Rissanen, who lives in Helsinki, dreams of being able to move further away from the center. Living in the center has had its advantages. For example, walking to work has been important to Rissasen. Now, however, peace, stability and continuity have begun to weigh on the scales.
Makeup and hair: Meri Leiviskä
Style: Hani Haimi
Clothing information: Floral dress Camilla, blue skirt Self Portrait / My o My Kämp Gallery, beige sweater Second Female, cherry colored sweater Mos Mos, vest and shorts Gracy&Mila / Villa Tremondo, shoes / Karvinen Pohjoisesplanadi.