Tanja Tellervo Karpela[1] (née Vienonen; previously Karpela and Saarela. born 22 August 1970) is a Finnish politician. She is a Member of Parliament[1] and served in the government of Finland as Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2007.[2]
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Karpela was born in Salo.[2] As a beauty queen, she held the title of Miss Finland and represented her country in the Miss Universe pageant in 1991.[3] Karpela was elected to parliament from the Electoral District of Uusimaa in 1999, representing the Centre Party.[1] Prior to her election, she also became famous for her work as a underwear and lingerie model. She was appointed Minister of Culture in Prime Minister Anneli Jäätteenmäki's cabinet in 2003.[4] After the resignation of Jäätteenmäki, Karpela went on to serve in the same post under Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.[2]
On 21 May 2006, Karpela married film director Olli Saarela,[1][2] and took her new husband's surname.[5] She filed for divorce from Olli Saarela in November 2007,[6] and on 22 February 2008 she changed her name back to Karpela.[7]
Karpela has two children from her previous marriage to Totti Karpela.[1][2]
Karpela is a convicted drunk driver [8][9] 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 with Finance Minister Sauli Niinistö (a widower).[3] Karpela's Centre Party was in 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][10] They broke off their engagement in 2004.[3][11]
In December 2005 Karpela received a Big Brother Award from the Finnish on-line civil rights organization EFFI for proposing Internet traffic blocking software be installed in schools and libraries.[12] She was also a supporter of the 2005 amendment to the Finnish Copyright Act and Penal Code, which has been nicknamed Lex Karpela[13] due to her acceptance of what many perceive to be a highly controversial addition to the Finnish law.