On July 27, this year's Miss Norway will be elected, and among the semi-finalists is 26-year-old Eirin Grinde Tunheim.

Norway 2019

She came to Norway from Thailand as a thirteen year old, and has a somewhat different background history than the other girls participating in the competition.

Eirin Grinde Tunheim was born boy, and went under the name Grin Tuai-Tun when she moved to Norway with her mother in 2006.

Grinde Tunheim has wanted to be a woman as long as she can remember and got support from home and from people around her. She thinks that she has always had a positive attitude about being a woman all the way.

She sees, participating in the Miss Norway competition as an opportunity to contribute something positive to herself and others.

I have a female social security number and meet all requirements to participate. I look at it as an opportunity to work for diversity. To show that you can be the one you want and do what you want, the 26-year-old proudly told the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, and she added :

«I want to be a good role model for everyone and not just those who are in the same situation as me. I want to be someone to watch out for. For me, everyone is equally worthwhile».

Tagged:
About the Author

Staff members publishes stories from other news outlets from around the world.