“I didn’t think such doors could open in my lifetime”

Rimi Riutta wants to be an example to others. Jani Korpela

Health student from Tampere Rimi Riutta, 25, watched pageants as a child, but didn’t even dare to dream of being a pageant herself. Now she is one of the semi-finalists of the Miss Finland 2023 competition.

– The world was a very different place. I admired from afar, but now I’m here. I never knew such a thing could be possible for me. I didn’t think that such doors could open for me in my lifetime, says Rimi.

Rimi is the first transgender Miss Finland semi-finalist in history. Rimi wants to create by example “a more harmonious society, so that everyone has the opportunity to live a normal life on their own”.

– I wanted to go and do important work for this society, because I have received help from the Finnish health care system, for example, with my gender reassignment process, Rimi says.

Rimi says that the gender reassignment process, which she started at the age of 19, saved her life.

One of the most important values ​​for Rimi is justice. Rimi’s everyday life is characterized by, among other things, the gym, good food, friends, family and culture.

Rimi applied for the Miss Finland competition for the first time.

– I thought that now I could have a lot to give. I wanted to dare to be the first, because we still need the first to set an example for others. If no one dares to be the first, no one else will follow, says Rimi.