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».