The European city of Helsinki is making a bold move by encouraging Pamela Anderson to reconnect with her Finnish heritage and offering assistance in changing her name. In a recent interview with Vogue Scandinavia, Anderson expressed a strong bond with her Finnish grandfather, Herman Hyytiäinen. She revealed that her grandfather’s original name was Hyytiäinen before it was changed to Anderson upon his arrival in Canada in 1908. Anderson expressed her desire to reclaim her Finnish family name, stating, “Sometimes I don’t want to be Pamela Anderson. I want to be Pamela Hyytiäinen.”
Responding to Anderson’s sentiments, Helsinki Partners, a marketing company owned by the City of Helsinki, has launched a campaign to support Anderson in adopting the name Hyytiäinen. The campaign includes online advertisements and billboards placed near Anderson’s residence on Vancouver Island. A video ad featuring Finnish actor Janne Hyytiäinen, self-proclaimed as the “world’s most famous Hyytiäinen,” offers assistance to Anderson in embracing her Finnish roots. Janne Hyytiäinen presents three options for Anderson to officially become a Hyytiäinen: through marriage, adoption, or a legal name change.
The campaign titled “Operation Make Pamela a Hyytiäinen” aims to showcase Helsinki as a welcoming destination and encourages Anderson to explore her Finnish ancestry. Despite efforts to reach out to Anderson for comment, there has been no response so far. While it remains uncertain if Anderson has seen the ads, she previously mentioned at the Golden Globes that she intends to retain the name Anderson. Nevertheless, Helsinki extends an invitation for Anderson to visit the city and country, emphasizing their willingness to assist her should she decide to pursue a name change in the future.