About
Elina Tervo is a Finnish multi‑talent who has turned her passion for movement and adventure into a colourful career. Born on 29 December 1986 in Helsinki, she first caught the public eye when she won the Miss Helsinki crown in 2011, then powered on to become the European Bikini Fitness Champion the very next year.
Today, she balances life as a fitness athlete, commercial model, certified yoga teacher, and globe‑trotting content creator. Listal, an entertainment database, lists her at 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) tall and notes that she is currently based in Spain. Her Instagram bio spells out the vibe perfectly—“International model / Creator / Nomad / World traveller”—and the account has grown to roughly 68k followers on Instagram. Whether she is filming a travel reel from Malta or posing for a fitness shoot in Miami, Elina aims to inspire an active, curious lifestyle rather than simply display perfect abs.
Before Fame
Although people often link her with the Finnish capital, Elina’s early years were anything but stationary. She spent part of her childhood in Switzerland, later moved with her family to Rovaniemi in Lapland and central Finland, and eventually returned south to study in Helsinki. Her curiosity about the body led her to train as a massage therapist, a media assistant, and, later, a yoga instructor.
Modelling assignments started when she was just thirteen, but the turning point arrived in 2010. That summer, she entered the Fitness Universe event in Miami, marking her debut on an international stage. A few months later, she placed second—right behind fellow Finn Janni Hussi—in the national Fitness Model search on Wikipedia. The taste of competition lit a fire: by 2012, she was standing on the top step of the podium in Paris as Europe’s best Bikini Fitness athlete, and in 2014, she added a world silver from Las Vegas to her résumé on Wikipedia.
Trivia
- Serial traveller: Friends joke that Elina owns more boarding passes than socks. A 2021 feature described her as “wild and free… a nomad with a strong need to experience the world”.
- From studio lights to candlelight: Besides weight‑room sessions, she teaches slow‑flow yoga classes and often shares sunrise practice clips from beaches or rooftops.
- Camera favourite: In 2011, the sportswear world noticed her when Calvin Klein selected her as a Body Jeans model. Shoots for Elle Finland and MAXIM Australia soon followed, the latter photographed by Ryan Dwyer.
- Height hack: Standing at 5 ft 6 in, she relies on pointed toes and confident posture—not towering heels—to look statuesque on‑camera.
- Languages on the go: Constant travel has polished her English and Spanish alongside her native Finnish; fans often hear a cheerful mix of all three on her stories.
Family Life
Elina keeps relatives largely off her social feeds, yet snippets reveal a close‑knit clan that encouraged exploration from a young age. The family relocations between Helsinki, Switzerland, and Lapland fostered her taste for new places. While she hasn’t spoken publicly about siblings or children, she frequently credits her parents for teaching resilience and for supporting her decision to pursue a fitness career instead of a desk job. Holidays still draw her back to Finland, where group sauna sessions and long forest walks remain non‑negotiable traditions.
Associated With
- Janni Hussi: Fellow Finnish fitness star who edged her out in the 2010 national contest; the friendly rivalry pushed both athletes to international stages.
- Calvin Klein: The iconic brand that booked her for its Body Jeans campaign, boosting her visibility beyond the fitness world.
- Ryan Dwyer: Photographer behind a widely shared MAXIM Australia spread that showcased her love of beach life.
- Finnish TV shows: Appearances on Suomen Pelkokertoimessa (Finland’s Fear Factor) and the panel show Tuulitunneli expanded her audience at home.
- Global fitness community: From Las Vegas pros to Maltese yoga students, Elina collaborates with athletes and creatives who see wellness as a passport to the planet.
