Anja Akkanen participated in the adult women's Kurvikuningatar Suomi beauty contest

Riksuu in love is a story series in which people from Riihimäki share their thoughts about their hometown.

When Anja Akkanen moved from Ryttylä in Hausjärvi to Riihimäki at the age of 16, she came to work at Rips-bingo and moved with her boyfriend to a studio apartment on Keskuskatu in the heart of the city.

"In 1986, Riihimäki offered the feeling of a big world to a Ryttylä girl! We young people used to walk up and down Hämeenkatu. Today, young people gather somewhere else."

Since then, Akkanen has lived in many places in Räätykänmäki and Hirsimäki and built two detached houses with her husband on a city lot in Korttionmäki. The house built in 1996 had four bedrooms, but with the fourth child, an even bigger house had to be built in 2005.

"Now we have 168 square meters of space for two. I was already laughing to my husband that maybe we should get a plot of land in the housing fair area of ​​Riihimäki, and build a smaller house there."

The home has a feeling of spaciousness, because the squares are on the same level and the ceiling is high. Akkanen likes homemaking, cooking and decorating. By changing the arrangement, moving furniture and carpets, you get a new look.

"I diligently change curtains, pillows and the place of decorative objects. On the other hand, I'm not a garden person at all, and it can be quite natural."

Descriptive pile of wood

Akkanen often looks at Riksu through the lens of the camera. She participated in the Kurvikuningatar Suomi beauty contest aimed at 40-60 year olds. At the core of the annual competition is body positivity and gentleness.

"I saw Riihimäki with slightly different eyes, when for the contest public voting you had to photograph yourself in interesting landscapes and be featured on Instagram and Facebook. One of my favorite places is by the sawmill in Versowood, where I stood in front of the pile of wood on the old tracks. You can also get interesting pictures in the blocks of wooden houses."

Akkasen has six years of experience working as a program assistant, i.e. as a background actor.

"Assisting with the program is really fun. It's a world of its own and I've made a lot of friends through it."

When Akkanen saw an announcement about a curvy queen in the Riihimäki group on Facebook, she submitted the application mainly as a joke. The beauty pageant is completely new to her, although being in front of the camera is familiar. Akkanen's motto is that you have to try everything, even the crazy ones.

"Unexpectedly, I got an invitation to the semi-finals and I even made it to the finals as one of the ten. The girls were excited about the competition. My husband snorted a bit, but of course he is already used to my antics. My hairstylist daughter did my hair and we borrowed clothes from a clothing store in Valkää. I didn't place, but I was chosen among the competitors as Miss Togetherness."

Functional health services

Akkanen retired in 2014 due to bipolar disorder. He has undergone mental health experience specialist training, and can help others in the same situation.

"My illness is well under control with medication, but now other health problems are on the surface. I have joint problems and heart failure. The heart rate rises from time to time, there is a bad feeling and arrhythmias."

Akkanen praises Riihimäki Health Center and especially the mental health services.

"I have always received help by calling the health center. I've only had good experiences and that's why I'm surprised when many people complain on social media."

Akkanen sums up that he is a proud Riihimäki resident who finds all the services he needs nearby in his small hometown.

"A particularly nice place is the activity center for people with intellectual disabilities, Rivaka's store in Mattila. There you can buy small handmade gifts and drink cup coffee. I also like the cafe Mokkasydäme and the Finnish glass museum".

Anja Akkanen, 53

• Lived in Riihimäki since the age of 16.
• Now lives with her husband in a detached house in Korttionmäki. Four adult children are already on their own, two of them live in Riihimäki.
• On disability pension.
• Enjoys cooking, decorating and occasional gigs as a program assistant or background actor. Has appeared, for example, in Sykkee and Mielsäpahoidadita movie.