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SWEDEOFTHEWEEK

Swedes of the Week

Here is the archived list of every Swede to ever be featured as The Local's Swede of the Week.

Published: 15 April 2013 17:32 CEST
Swedes of the Week
Photo: Eddie Gee

August 2013

How I climbed Sweden’s highest mountain – with a wheelchair

This week’s Swede of the Week is Aron Anderson, a 25-year-old man who became the first person to ever reach the top of Mount Kebnekaise, Sweden’s tallest peak, with a wheelchair..

July 2013

Russia needs a total gay rights U-turn: minister

With Stockholm Pride week in full swing, Sweden’s EU Minister Birgitta Ohlsson talks to The Local about Russia’s “repulsive” gay laws, getting pelted with eggs by gay haters in Lithuania, and how Sweden must lead the way in supporting the LGBT community.

Tentacle fetishist to bring back ‘Swedish sin’

Swedish fetish pin-up Calamity Amelie is on a mission to ensure adult entertainment actors are properly paid, to put Sweden back on the industry map with the help of rubber tentacles, and wants women to be valued for more than their looks.

Swedish football maestro who snubbed Obama

Sweden’s coach of the ladies team has always done things her own way in a long and hugely successful career. As she bids for Euro 2013 glory, outspoken trailblazer Pia Sundhage is the obvious choice for our Swede of the Week

‘I need to reclaim Swedishness’: Evin Cetin

Social Democrat Evin Cetin decided to pull a sartorial stunt to knock the air out of the Sweden Democrats’ day at the political conference Almedalen. Wearing national costume, she declared she loved all Swedes, not just the blonde ones, making her “more Swedish” than the anti-immigration party.

June 2013

Swedes join woman’s hunt for ‘super hot’ guy

A Facebook post about a chance encounter on the Stockholm metro with a “damn hot” guy in a green shirt landed the face of 36-year-old Lisa Tegelmark in newspapers across Sweden, making her our pick for Swede of the Week.

Museum goes Pop! thanks to returnee Swede

Shining the spotlight on a domestic mystic helped Moderna Museet’s Daniel Birnbaum propel artist Hilma af Klint onto the global stage, while setting the tone for his directorship at Stockholm’s most high-profile museum.

73 Percent Fat, a photographic diary of battling obesity

As one of Sweden’s most talented up-and-coming photojournalists, Alexander Mahmoud, 22, faces his toughest challenge yet. Not only losing weight, but photographing himself along the way. Our Swede of the Week tells us about the warts-and-all project 73 Percent Fat.

May 2013

Eurovision host: ‘Not everyone has to like me’

Beyond the sequinned hemlines, Sweden’s Eurovision host Petra Mede is a woman who pulled no punches as a comedian, and is now trying to balance her spunk with Saturday’s demands for a happy-go-lucky pop fest, making her an easy pick for Swede of the Week.

‘Politics has no place on my theatre stage’

Swedish theatre director Catta Neuding has long sung the virtues of private money in the cultural sector. She tells The Local why many of her colleagues see her as a norm-breaker.

Swedish cops bask in Gangnam Style viral glow

A Gangnam Style-inspired announcement about traffic safety that went viral on Facebook has thrust a humble group of Swedish police officers into the spotlight, making them our pick for Swede(s) of the Week.

April 2013

‘I felt like a traitor when I left Tensta’

Swedish writer Johanna Langhorst is this week’s Swede of the Week, after she wrote a book in defence of the Stockholm suburb Tensta, even though her family left after almost two decades when her teenage son was robbed twice.

Håkan Hellström: Indie darling to stadium rocker

Swedish singer Håkan Hellström, one of Gothenburg’s favourite sons, released his seventh studio album to critical acclaim on Wednesday, making him The Local’s Swede of the Week.

‘Swede wows Katy Perry with jungle jingle

A hot new Swedish singer got a big boost this week from US pop star Katy Perry, whose social media shout-out helped Ellinor Olovsdotter, better known as Elliphant, reach millions of new fans, making her our pick for Swede of the Week.

‘It’d be strange if I wasn’t nervous’: royal chef

The Swedish Royal Court has announced that Stefano Catenacci will be cooking for the royal family at Princess Madeleine’s wedding this summer. The Swedish Chef is on the menu as The Local’s Swede of the Week.

March 2013

Swede reveals new site in wake of online mannequin shenanigans

After her picture of a Swedish mannequin left the internet buzzing, Malmö resident Rebecka Silvekroon has seized the moment to keep the world talking about body image, making her our pick for Swede of the Week.

A writer who dared a minister to get in his skin

An open letter by Swedish author Jonas Hassen Khemiri challenging Justice Minister Beatrice Ask to “change skin” with him has sparked an unprecedented response in an ongoing debate about race and ethnicity, making him our pick for Swede of the Week.

Polemic pundit prepares for political comeback

In our series profiling Swedish newsmakers, our pick for Swede of the Week is firebrand feminist Gudrun Schyman, who wants to return to national politics to fight surging sexism and a lulling labour market.

‘You can’t butcher a family member’

Hot on the hooves of the Ikea meatball horsemeat hullabaloo, The Local’s pick for Swede of the Week is Esprit, a four-legged 22-year-old with a disdain for donkeys who won’t be appearing on a dinner plate any time soon.

February 2013

Sweden’s ‘snow man’: I didn’t want to be saved

Sweden’s “snow man”, who emerged one year ago after spending two months buried in a car in the country’s far north, has spoken out extensively about the ordeal for the first time, making him The Local’s pick for Swede of the Week.

Swede’s Grammy win ‘a dream come true’

Jonas Myrin took home a Grammy in Los Angeles for penning 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord), which was awarded as Best Contemporary Christian Music Song.

Inside the Pirates’ den: filmmaker Simon Klose

With a much-anticipated documentary about Swedish filesharing site The Pirate Bay set to debut at the Berlin International Film festival on Friday, The Local catches up with director Simon Klose, our pick for Swede of the Week.

January 2013

‘Peeping Tom mural romanticizes harassment’

A 14-year-old student in northern Sweden made headlines after she claimed restroom art at her school “romanticized peeping”. Due to her battle against bathroom sexism, Astrid Johansson is The Local’s Swede of the Week.

Online refugee greeting takes Sweden by storm

A small-town shopkeeper’s folksy Facebook greeting to newly-arrived Syrian refugees kicked off a big-time media frenzy that continues to reverberate, making Bo Oskarsson of Kaxås our pick for Swede of the Week.

Laila Bagge’s homeless mobile phone flap

She’s a familiar face on Swedish television, but it was her venting blog post about a homeless man’s mobile phone that caught the nation’s attention this week. Laila Bagge Wahlgren is The Local’s Swede of the Week.

Forty years in comics for ‘leftie bear’ Bamse

A brown bear in blue dungarees dubbed the “world’s strongest bear” celebrated 40 years of leading the battle for a kinder world this week, despite charges of being a communist and a turn-coat capitalist. Ursus comicus Bamse is The Local’s Swede of the Week.

Mikael Marcimain: ‘I’ve never made a Palme film’

In The Local’s ongoing series profiling Swedish newsmakers, we turn this week’s spotlight on filmmaker Mikael Marcimain, director of Call Girl, a controversial film which earned 11 Swedish film award nominations, including best picture and best director.

2012

The Sarah Dawn Finer things at Christmas

For the festive special of our new Swede of the Week series, we take a look at singer Sarah Dawn Finer who bagged the most sought after seasonal job on Swedish television.

The man with the best memory in Sweden

In The Local’s series spotlighting Swedes who have made headlines during the week, we talk to Jonas von Essen, the memory whizz who raked in three awards in London for his total recall.

The octogenarian Saint Lucia choir: still in tune

A broken lift, missing batteries, and a wobbly 83-year-old Saint Lucia couldn’t dampen spirits among the members of an elderly cooperative choir south of Stockholm, The Local’s Lucia-themed pick for Swede(s) of the Week.

Liberal EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström

In a new series profiling Swedish newsmakers, The Local takes a look at Cecilia Malmström, the Swedish EU Commissioner who this week helped launch a global alliance to combat child pornography.

August Prize-winning author Göran Rosenberg

In a new series profiling Swedish newsmakers, The Local gets the lowdown on author and journalist Göran Rosenberg, who won Sweden’s most prestigious prize for literature on Monday.

Comedian Soran Ismail: ‘Someone’s gotta laugh’

In the first of a new series profiling Swedish newsmakers, The Local gets the lowdown on Kurdish-Swedish comedian Soran Ismail, who has been in the news recently for his starring role in the Sweden Democrat racist video scandal.

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ANOREXIA

Inspiring with Instagram: One Swede’s Journey

Antonia Eriksson, 18, went from nearly fatal anorexia to international health guru in less than a year - and documented the journey on Instagram, making her our pick for Swede of the Week.

Published: 9 January 2014 07:00 CET
Inspiring with Instagram: One Swede's Journey
Antonia Eriksson documented her recovery from anorexia - on Instagram. Photo: Antonia Eriksson

The latest picture on 18-year-old Antonia Eriksson's Instagram account (@eatmoveimprove) is a plate full of rice, beans, and meat. The caption: "Carbs make you fat? HELL NO! Carbs make you strong!"

The first picture on her account, just 15 months ago, tells a different story.

"As feared they had me admitted to (the) hospital since the anorexia had gotten so crucial," the caption reads. The picture is of the hospital bed where Eriksson lay, weighing only 38 kilogrammes. Her body was shutting down and doctors feared she wouldn't have lived another day on her own.

More than 10,000 Swedes, mostly women, suffer from anorexia according to data from the Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment, and as many as one in three Swedish women has an eating disorder of some kind.

Eriksson's own descent into anorexia began at the beginning of 2012 after she and a friend counted their calorie intake on a whim. What began just for fun quickly became an obsession, and in September she was admitted to the hospital – where she stayed for two months.

"I think I knew something was up from the very first day, but I didn’t really admit that I had a problem until I was already really sick," Eriksson told The Local. "My dad called the eating disorder clinic in town, and by the point I knew it was dangerous. I had stopped working out because my body couldn’t cope with it."

Eriksson knew something had to change. So she logged on to Instagram.

"My phone was overloaded with pictures of really skinny girls," Eriksson said. The majority of the accounts she followed were what are known as thinspo accounts ("thin inspiration"), so-called encouragement for people who want to lose weight – lots of weight.  

But Instagram wasn’t all negative. That day in the hospital Eriksson also discovered a community of support on the social image site, and decided to reach out.

"I made my first post that day in the hospital," Eriksson said. At first she posted anonymously under the account name @fightinganorexia, wanting support but not wanting to share her struggle with her peers. "I had seen what a huge network there was, and I wanted to be a part of that. Everyone talked to each other and supported each other. And I needed someone to reach out to. I needed someone who understood."

From there Eriksson's situation improved rapidly, and by February 2013 she had reached a healthy weight. She created a new account connected to her identity, wanting to be trustworthy and easy to connect to. Today her account is "fitspo", inspiring people to be fit – and not worry about their weight.

The contrast is astonishing. Every day Eriksson posts images of food – not celery sticks and salad, but "normal food", everything from fried potatoes to porridge to chocolatey desserts. Eriksson doesn't follow a diet, and encourages others not to either. And while she does upload fitness images as well, of herself sweaty and glistening in workout clothes after an hour at the gym, she never shares numbers – neither weight nor calories. 

At the time of writing Eriksson has 28,100 followers, many of whom have struggled or are currently struggling with eating disorders. 

"Today I get over 20 emails a day, and the same amount of messages (on social media)," Eriksson told The Local. "And my comment feed on Instagram is insane."

And she answers all of them, not wanting anyone to feel alone.

"I just want to inspire people. There are so many young girls who feel awful about their bodies today, and I want to show them that they don’t have to. It’s not about your weight, it’s about being happy. You only have one body and it’s not worth mistreating it." 

The battle is not over, as there are still thousands of people suffering from eating disorders  – and innumerable thinspo accounts on Instagram. The thinspo tag was censored on Instagram for a time, but was made searchable again in October last year. Eriksson thinks the social media site needs to take the next step. 

"A site like Instagram has a responsibility to look out for their followers and block dangerous hashtags if they can," Eriksson said. "These thing spread like wildfire. People are in danger and (Instagram) should change the game."

Eriksson's idea of using Instagram as a tool for improvement was not entirely original, but rather inspired by many existing accounts. But it's Eriksson's account which has taken the world by storm. Her story has been featured in media around the world. The Local asked why.

"I think it’s partly just because I’m very open with my story," Eriksson said. "I’ve written all my thoughts, and everything I feel. Not everyone talks about the dark and shameful side of their photos, and I do."

She also thinks timing has a lot to do with her sudden shot to fame.

"The story blew up because it gives people hope. We’re so used to all these negative stories about eating disorders and mental illness. And somewhere along the line comes this positive story, and that catches people," Eriksson reflected. "People need hope. And health is a big topic right now, people can relate and connect. My story just happened to come at the right time."

Solveig Rundquist

Follow Solveig on Twitter.

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