18-year-old Iida Vainio says that despite the great feedback, she has been able to walk in her hometown of Lappeenranta in peace.
Lion fan Iida Vainio was at the airport to receive hockey players from Beijing on Monday. Antti Nikkanen
Iida Vainio, 18, from Lappeenranta, was at the airport receiving puck lions from the Beijing Olympics on Monday, February 21st. Thanks to his spectacular dress, Vainio quickly became a topic of conversation in newspapers and on social media.
Vainio now tells Iltalehti that the atmosphere has remained quite good since Monday. There has also been a lot of feedback for the woman.
– I have received really good feedback, and many women have also received good feedback. It has been bad, but there has been good feedback, especially in that part of the program, Vainio says.
Media person Aleksi Valavuori recruited Vainio as a sports reporter for the Twitch streaming service.
– It’s been nice that people are interested. It certainly seems to be my own doing, and when I want to do that own program, it’s good to be interested.
Vainio adds, however, that the copious amount of attention came as a surprise.
– I couldn’t wait. Of course, whatever the discussions have been, my dress is different. On the other hand, in some countries it’s just normal, maybe it’s not in Finland, so it became such a big deal.
In his hometown, he has still been allowed to move around in peace.
– There are so many down-to-earth people in Lappeenranta, we don’t really look at people more here, no matter who, Vainio sums up.
New beginnings
Vainio is about to move to Tampere, where the waiter’s work in the restaurant is waiting.
– It’s nice to have a fresh start there too.
In addition to his own program work and work in the restaurant industry, Vainio also has other, cautious plans for the future.
– The plot gigs are what I’m probably going to do at some point.
– Later, it might be a dream to go abroad to do some work in the field, but there is still a way to go when I am so young, Vainio says.
Over the past week, Vainio has received support and encouragement from both friends and family.
– My best friend is my manager. He supports me and takes care of these things with me, and thinks things are going well.
– People close know what I’m doing. They care yes but would not leave to intervene and comment in a negative tone.