Saara Aalto
A Finnish pop powerhouse whose soaring vocals and theatrical flair catapulted her to international fame on *The X Factor*.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Finnish singer, songwriter, and voice actress·Birthday: May 2·Millennials
Biography
Saara Aalto is a burst of Nordic pop energy, a singer-songwriter from Finland who combines powerhouse vocals with a whimsical, theatrical sensibility. Trained in classical singing and musical theatre, she first gained national attention as the runner-up on *The Voice of Finland*. Her big break came when she auditioned for the UK's *The X Factor* in 2016, finishing as the series' runner-up with performances that showcased her dynamic range and flamboyant stage presence. This platform launched her international career, leading to a major label deal, Eurovision Song Contest representation for Finland in 2018, and a dedicated global fanbase. Beyond pop, Aalto is a skilled voice actress, dubbing animated films in Finnish and lending her voice to video games, embodying a versatile artistic spirit.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Saara was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Saara Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Saara's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished as runner-up on the UK version of *The X Factor* in 2016, gaining a massive international following.
- Represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with her self-penned song 'Monsters'.
- Has released multiple studio albums in both Finnish and English, including 'Wild Wild Wonderland'.
- Works extensively as a voice actress, dubbing roles for major animated films like *Frozen* (as Anna) in Finnish.
Did You Know?
She is a trained musical theatre performer and has starred in stage productions in Finland.
Aalto is openly gay and married her long-time partner, Meri Sopanen, in 2020.
She competed in the Finnish national selection for Eurovision multiple times before finally winning in 2018.
She is an avid video game player and has voiced characters in games like *Angry Birds*.
“I want to be myself, and I want to show that it's okay to be different.”
