Finnish capital Helsinki has released a new film offering a very personal invitation to none other than Pamela Anderson.
The film, which runs for just over 90 seconds follows the Baywatch star telling Vogue Scandinavia that she wanted to reclaim her Finnish family name Hyytiäinen and reconnect with her Scandi heritage.
The film is narrated by actor Janne Hyytiäinen — currently the world’s most famous Hyytiäinen.
The city even took the outreach to Vancouver Island, where Anderson currently lives, setting up roadside billboards along routes in and out of her home city.
A website has also been created asking users if they are Anderson and denying them access if they click ‘No’.
Regardless of why Anderson could not make the change, Helsinki wants to make clear that adopting the name Hyytiäinen is possible, and general guidance on how the process works is publicly available.
“After reading Anderson’s interview in Vogue Scandinavia, we wanted to respond with a warm welcome to Helsinki. Many of the interests she has spoken about publicly, from nature and wellbeing to a simpler everyday rhythm, are also things Helsinki has a great deal to offer,” says Soila Lehkonen, head of brand and PR at Helsinki Partners.
Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world by the World Happiness Report for the eighth year in a row, and Helsinki sees happiness as something shaped in everyday life. In line with the capital’s strategy—that Helsinki provides all the conditions for living the best possible life—the city aims to support wellbeing in practical, human ways.
“Anderson’s public comments regarding her Finnish heritage sparked a simple question on our end: if someone publicly expresses a wish to reconnect with their Finnish roots, what would a welcoming, functional city do? For Helsinki, the answer was to send an invitation,” continued Soila Lehkonen.
“If Anderson were to respond, we would be delighted to welcome her and to introduce her to everyday life in Helsinki, including Finnish sauna culture. Perhaps even a smoke sauna followed by a cold dip, as a very Helsinki-style way to say welcome,” states Liisa Kivelä, the chief communications officer of the City of Helsinki.
Anderson and Hyytiäinen may even be distant relatives. Data from the Finnish Digital and Population Data Services shows that fewer than 1,800 people in Finland share the surname Hyytiäinen.
“I’d love to personally welcome Pamela to Helsinki and show her around the city. Who knows, this open invitation could turn into a meeting of long-lost cousins”, says Janne Hyytiäinen.
The City of Helsinki went to pains to say that Anderson herself is not participating in the campaign or collaborating with Helsinki, and Helsinki is not presenting her as part of it.
