Draft:Kelly Keodara

Kelly Isabelle Keodara (USA: born on 16 February 1987) is a communication coach and former American model, with a professional background ranging from entertainment, journalism, marketing, humanitarian aid and entrepreneurship. Her experience with international organizations include the United Nations, European Commission, and the Finnish aerospace and defense company, Patria. She currently holds the position of Head of Communications and Engagement at the Nokia Headquarters based in Espoo, Finland, as well as the Founder and President of Bloom ry, a non-profit association that supports with international integration and talent retention in Finland.

Early Life and Education
Kelly Isabelle Keodara was born on 16 February 1987 in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand in Napho refugee camp. Her parents are from Laos and migrated to Thailand to escape civil war in their country. Keodara's father is mixed with French. Her parents divorced when Keodara was 16 years old. She comes from a modest upbringing learning resilience from poverty in her early childhood years. Keodara is a naturalized American citizen.

Keodara graduated from Hugh M. Cummings High School in Burlington, NC USA in 2005. She worked in sales management at Victoria's Secret during her studies (2006-2011), graduating with a Bachelor's degree from University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Media Studies, with a Minor in Entrepreneurship (2011). She moved to Rauma, Finland in 2015 with her then-partner and toddler son. She moved to Tampere, Finland in 2017 to pursue her Master's degree in Media Education from Tampere University in Media Education (2020). She was also Tampere University Student Ambassador where she promoted studying in the university. In 2018 and 2019, she traveled to USA, Laos, Thailand, Philippines, South Korea, and Japan specifically to promote studying in Finland and at Tampere University.

Early Career
Keodara began her professional career as an American model at the age of 14. She attended John Robert Powers Modeling and Acting School in Raleigh, NC USA. This is where she embarked on her modeling and acting career.

She has worked with photographers and brands worldwide, as well as participating in runway shows such as Charleston Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week. Keodara auditioned for TV show, America's Top Model, in 2009. She was also a frequent model for events for Superbowl, Maxim Magazine and Sports Illustrated Magazine. Keodara took part in a national campaign for VH1 TV show, Dating Naked, where she and colleague rode around New York City, NY USA in a pedicab promoting the series.

Keodara was represented by Spectrum Talent in Los Angeles, CA USA and Marilyn's Model Management in Greensboro, NC USA. She stopped accepting modeling gigs after her son was born in 2012.

Professional Life
Keodara is an advocate for international attraction and retention in Finland, as stated in Good News from Finland article. During her Master's degree, she worked in marketing and communications in a startup focusing on VR technology. She was active in Finnish Model United Nations from 2017-2019. After graduating with her Master's degree, she was hired at Patria, a Finnish aerospace and defense company. She was the first international and the first woman on her team. In 2019, she hosted TEDxTampereUniversity.

She founded the non-profit association, Bloom ry, to support international integrational and talent retention in Finland. Keodara is also a Tampere City Ambassador, where she promotes living, working and studying in Tampere, and in Finland. In 2022, Keodara was named Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise from Euclid Network in collaboration with European Commission. Keodara has relaunched her model and acting career in Finland, working for brands such as Robert's Berries, Valio and Finnair. She was a part of their 100-year global commercial campaign. Keodara has also starred in Lordi's music video, Borderline.

Currently, she is working as Head of Communications and Engagement at Nokia at the headquarters in Espoo, Finland. She is also a Citizen Liaison for the US Embassy in Helsinki.

Personal Life
Keodara has a son born in 2012 with her former partner.

In May 2024, she has been spotted with Markus Räikkönen, ex-husband of Sanna Marin, with speculations that they are dating.