Tanja Karpela | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Minister for Culture | |
| In office 17 April 2003 – 19 April 2007 | |
| Prime Minister | Anneli Jäätteenmäki Matti Vanhanen |
| Preceded by | Kaarina Dromberg |
| Succeeded by | Stefan Wallin |
| Member ofFinnish Parliament forUusimaa | |
| In office 24 March 1999 – 19 April 2011 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1970-08-22)22 August 1970 (age 55) |
| Party | Finnish Centre |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
Tanja Tellervo Karpela[1] (née Vienonen;previouslyKarpela andSaarela; born 22 August 1970) is a Finnish former politician and beauty pageant titleholder who was crownedMiss Finland 1991. She was a Member ofParliament of Finland from 1999 to 2011[1] and served in the government ofFinland asMinister of Culture from 2003 to 2007.[2]
Karpela was born inSalo.[2] As abeauty queen, she held the title ofMiss Finland and represented her country in theMiss Universe 1991.[3] Prior to her political career, she also became famous for her work as an underwear and lingerie model.
Karpela was elected toparliament from the Electoral District ofUusimaa in 1999, representing theCentre Party.[1] She was appointed Minister of Culture inPrime MinisterAnneli Jäätteenmäki'scabinet in 2003.[4] After the resignation of Jäätteenmäki, Karpela went on to serve in the same post under Prime MinisterMatti Vanhanen.[2]
In December 2005 Karpela received aBig Brother Award from the Finnish online civil rights organizationEFFI for proposing Internet traffic blocking software be installed in schools and libraries.[5] She was also a supporter of the2005 amendment to the Finnish Copyright Act and Penal Code, which has been nicknamedLex Karpela[6] due to her acceptance of what many perceive to be a highly controversial addition to the Finnish law. In March 2010, Karpela announced that she is no longer pursuing a parliamentary career following the2011 parliamentary elections.
Karpela is a convicted drunk driver[7][8] and since entering politics, she has become most famous for her relationships – she has remarried twice and broken off a third, separate engagement. Karpela caused a stir in 2001 when it became public that she (a divorcée) was having a relationship withFinance MinisterSauli Niinistö (a widower).[3] Karpela's Centre Party was in the opposition and Niinistö was considered the second-most influential man in government. Under close press scrutiny ever since, in 2003 Karpela and Niinistö announced their engagement.[3][9] They broke off their engagement in 2004.[3][10]
On 21 May 2006, Karpela married film directorOlli Saarela,[1][2] and took her new husband's surname.[11] She filed for divorce from Saarela in November 2007,[12] and on 22 February 2008 she changed her name back to Karpela.[13]
Karpela has two children (born 1995 and 1998) from her previous marriage to Totti Karpela and one (born 2009) from her third marriage to Janne Erjola.[1][2]
