Bea Toivonen has been in the public eye for over ten years.
Bea Toivonen once experienced dissatisfaction with her body. Inka Soveri
The 2014 Miss Finland Bea Toivonen is now 32 years old and has been in the public eye for more than ten years. Toivonen regards himself differently now than when he was a novice in the field.
Even at the beginning of his career, Toivonen was dissatisfied with his body and easily compared himself to others. He also received nasty messages that he should lose weight.
Toivonen’s modeling career began in 2013 with a modeling competition, which he won. A member of the jury had urged Toivo to lose weight.
– I think they said about ten kilos, Toivonen recalls.
Toivonen states that he was actually very thin, but that he thought he would not be slim enough for the modeling world.
Personal trainers and “crazy diets” came along. They had their effect, but at a heavy price.
– In the final stages, I started to feel quite weak, Toivonen recalls.
This is how Bea Toivonen looked in 2014 when she was aiming for the Miss Finland position. Jarno Juuti
Losing weight helped Toivonen’s goal. He won the competition and thus entered the lists of the Paparazzi model agency.
But even that wasn’t enough.
– The whole time I was there, I knew I’m still not small enough. Every time I went to the office I had the pressure of when they would say I’m not good enough.
Toivonen went to the gym five times a week at that time. About once a week he had a treat day, when he could eat, according to his own words, way too much.
– It was a battle with himself the whole time.
Bea Toivonen’s career started from a modeling competition 12 years ago. Inka Soveri
Nasty comments
When Toivonen left for the beauty pageant, the modeling agency was left behind. Toivonen started his mission career with the idea that he would be able to do the same things as before, but “as himself”.
That’s not what the mission career was all about. Toivonen always had the idea that he had to be someone else. The comments of the Finnish people – or as Toivonen expresses it, “Finland’s critics” – did not make the matter any easier.
– I knew there would be critical comments, but some were really mean.
Toivonen remembers a comment he received on Facebook when his weight increased at one point.
– He commented that “no offense, but I’m curious to ask how you got yourself into that condition”.
– I shed a little tear because it was such a sensitive topic at that point. It has really stuck in my mind.
Bea Toivonen is now more confident than ever. Inka Soveri
Relationship with the public now
Now time has passed and Toivonen has a different attitude to comments. It has required toughening herself, but nowadays she laughs off negative comments more than letting them get under her skin.
At the same time, Toivonen has learned to accept himself and his body after reaching the thirty milestone.
– Today, my self-confidence is the best I’ve ever had.
The public is not afraid of Toivo in the same way as before. In the future, he could be interested in working in the entertainment industry in front of the camera. Positively, he recalls, for example Survivors Finland program a few years ago.
– I keep everything really open, Toivonen states.
Dreams of working in the entertainment industry are also related to Toivonen, who lives in London, wishes to spend more time in Finland.
– I would get to see family and friends more, Toivonen states.