At the age of 16, Paula Joukanen had to abandon her dream due to illness. When Joukanen fell ill with a severe stomach bug during the final week of the Miss Universe competition, old feelings surfaced.
The reigning Miss Finland Paula Joukanen22, the week hasn’t gone exactly as planned.
Joukanen, representing Finland in the Miss Universe competition in El Salvador, got sick with a severe stomach bug during the finals week. The fever was almost 40 degrees at its worst, Joukanen was vomiting every ten minutes and his general condition was bad.
– I was really sad. Yes, it was really upsetting at the time, Joukanen sums up by phone to Iltalehti.
Paula Joukanen has aroused interest in beauty circles. Miss Universe
At the moment, Joukanen’s condition is improving. Joukanen says that the Miss Universum competition has invested a lot in health care and there are expert doctors who monitor the health of the misses. He has been in a medical center and has been treated several times.
– They also tried to inject me with electrolytes, but they couldn’t find a blood vessel. Injection attempts hurt more than vomiting, says Joukanen.
Joukanen had to participate in the judge’s interview with a fever. He has also not been able to take part in stage rehearsals, but only in official competition parts.
– It’s been really sad that I’ve had to miss opportunities. This reminds me of the times when I got sick for a year at the age of 16 and had to lie in bed for a year. My first thought was why always me? Joukanen is upset.
Joukanen says that his language skills have been very useful in the Miss Universe competitions. Joukanen has been to no less than 51 different countries. Miss Universe
At the age of 16, Joukanen fell ill with a chronic back disease. The illness crushed his dreams as a professional tennis player and Joukanen’s mind was in the ground.
On Thursday evening, the national costume round was held at the Miss Universum competition. Joukanen participated in the round feeling a little better, because the vomiting has stopped and the fever has dropped considerably.
– I think the tour went well. My dress is a significantly smaller size than others, so even though my general condition is not very good, I may have made up for it with my performance. Those with really big suits can hardly move in them.
Joukanen’s costume is based on Little My from Moomins. Miss Finland says that she got a lot of compliments about the dress and her national dress tour was described as “one of the best”.
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Although Joukanen’s Miss Universe journey has not gone completely as planned, it has exceeded all expectations.
– The people here are really nice and this is an incredible experience. Some of the Finnish misses warned me in advance that some people can be more competitive and mean, but I haven’t experienced it that way.
The Miss Universe competitions held in El Salvador are not only important for Joukasen but also for the whole of Finland. Anne Pohtamo won the Miss Universe competition in El Salvador in 1975.
Joukanen won the Miss Finland competition in September. Jussi Eskola
Joukanen has also aroused a lot of interest among El Salvadorians. He even received a message from the Minister of Tourism of El Salvador. The minister had said that he admired Joukas. Miss Finland wondered why the minister has so much love for Finland and Finns.
– He said that his best friend is Finnish and he wears Marimekko clothes! He also said that 30 percent of El Salvador’s electricity comes from a Finnish company, Joukanen laughs.
Joukanen’s mother, living in Venezuela Ignacio-boyfriend and his father have traveled to El Salvador to encourage Miss Finland to victory.
Unfortunately, due to strict security measures, Joukanen has not been able to meet his family or his boyfriend even once.
– After my victory, Ignacio’s father has become a real Miss fan! She has learned everything about the Miss Universe competitions. I told my boyfriend and his dad to come to a fan meeting so they could even see me for a second! At least they haven’t agreed to it yet, Joukanen laughs.
The Ignacchio lover arrived in Finland to cheer on his girlfriend’s victory. He plans to do the same in El Salvador. Jussi Eskola
– I probably won’t see my boyfriend until after the final, she continues.
The Miss Universe final will be held on Saturday, November 18. Joukanen is nervously waiting for the final, but excited. He still believes that despite the difficulties, victory can come home.
– Let’s wait and see how it goes, but I still have confidence in myself, Joukanen concludes.