Paula Larrain
{{Short description|Danish journalist, author and politician (born 1970)}}
{{expand Danish|topic=bio|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Paula Larrain
|image = Paula Larrain fra SK-konference.jpg
|other_names = Paula Gabriela Larrain Bjørn
|birth_name = Paula Gabriela Alvarez Larrain
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|01|29|df=y}}
|birth_place = Valparaíso, Chile
|education =
|party = Conservative People's Party
|spouse = Morten Løkkegaard (div.)
Frederik Bjørn (mar. 2015)
}}
Paula Gabriela Larrain Bjørn (born Paula Gabriela Alvarez Larrain; 29 January 1970 in Valparaíso, Chile) is a Danish journalist, author and politician. In the course of her career, she has written and presented for a variety of news organisations in Denmark. She has authored two books: I morgen skal vi hjem (2003) and Uden for citat (2008).
In addition to her journalistic career, Larrain was briefly a candidate for the Conservative People's Party. She ran during the 2007 Danish general election and again in 2008, but was not elected.
Biography
Larrain was born on 29 January 1970 in Valparaíso, Chile. At the age of four, she was forced to leave Chile along with her parents and older sister.{{Cite web|date=2020-01-29|title=Scenevant journalist, politiker og danser|url=https://sn.dk/Danmark/Scenevant-journalist-politiker-og-danser/artikel/908875|access-date=2021-01-01|website=sn.dk|language=da}} Her father had been a member of the Chilean Navy, and some statements he made following the 1973 Chilean coup d'état against President Salvador Allende forced him and his family to become political refugees. The family moved to Denmark. Initially, they lived in Brøndby, though Larrain's father's work took the family to Vallensbæk and eventually Esbjerg. She and her family were not allowed to return to Chile for many years. She wrote of her long-awaited return in her 2003 autobiography, I morgen skal vi hjem.{{Cite web|date=8 February 2004|title=I morgen skal vi hjem: mit liv som chilener i Danmark af Paula Larrain|url=https://litteratursiden.dk/anmeldelser/i-morgen-skal-vi-hjem-mit-liv-som-chilener-i-danmark-af-paula-larrain|access-date=2021-01-01|website=litteratursiden.dk|language=da}}{{Cite book|last=Larrain|first=Paula|title=I morgen skal vi hjem: mit liv som chilener i Danmark|publisher=Lindhardt og Ringhof|year=2003|isbn=8759520574|location=Copenhagen|language=da}} Of her family, she is the only one who remains in Denmark, as her father has moved to Chile, her mother to Greenland, and her sister to London.{{Cite web|last=Tannenberg|first=Keld|date=4 December 2008|title=Paula Larrain: Troen giver mit liv retning|url=https://www.lokalavisen.dk/migration/2008-12-04/Paula-Larrain-Troen-giver-mit-liv-retning-2927825.html|access-date=2021-01-01|website=www.lokalavisen.dk|language=da}}
At the age of 18, Larrain started writing for her local newspaper, Esbjerg Ugeavis.{{Cite web|last=Løbner|first=Svend|date=28 May 2020|title=Paula Larrain: 'Jeg er både dansker og chilener resten af livet'|url=https://sameksistens.dk/jeg-er-baade-dansker-og-chilener-resten-af-livet/|access-date=2021-01-01|website=Sameksistens|language=da}} She graduated from the Danish School of Journalism in Aarhus in 1994, and has since worked as a journalist for a variety of publications in Denmark, including the Danish Broadcasting Cooperation, Berlingske, Ekstra Bladet, TV Avisen, and Journalisten.{{Cite web|title=Paula Larrain|url=https://www.unhcr.org/neu/3559-paula-larrain.html|access-date=2021-01-01|website=UNHCR Nordic and Baltic Countries|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Madsen|first=Jens Jørgen|date=18 March 2008|title=Paula Larrain ny blogger på Journalisten.dk|url=https://journalisten.dk/paula-larrain-ny-blogger-pa-journalisten-dk/|access-date=2021-01-01|website=journalisten.dk|language=da}} Her first novel, Uden for citat, was published in 2008. The book was satirically critical of media and the Danish political process.{{cite web|last=Madsen|first=Jens Jørgen|date=11 March 2008|title=Paula Larrain udgiver humoristisk medieroman|url=https://journalisten.dk/paula-larrain-udgiver-humoristisk-medieroman|website=Journalisten|language=da}}
Larrain was a candidate for the Conservative People's Party in Copenhagen during the 2007 Danish general election.{{cite web|date=29 October 2007|title=Paula Larrain opstiller for De Konservative|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/paula-larrain-opstiller-de-konservative|website=DR|language=da}}{{Cite web|last=Fredensborg|first=René|date=2 November 2007|title=Paula Larrain på jagt efter parolerne|url=https://www.avisen.dk/paula-larrain-paa-jagt-efter-parolerne_1918.aspx|access-date=2021-01-01|website=www.avisen.dk|language=da}} She received 2,230 votes, though she lost the election to Helle Sjelle.{{cite news|date=14 November 2007|title=Paula Larrain fortsætter i politik|language=da-DK|work=TV 2|url=http://finans.tv2.dk/nyheder/article.php/id-9381692:paula-larrain-forts%C3%A6tter-i-politik.html}} She was unanimously nominated by the party to run again in 2008, this time for the Hillerød constituency.{{cite web|last=Stefansdottir Egekvist|first=Kirstin|date=23 October 2008|title=Paula Larrain skifter kreds|url=https://politiken.dk/indland/politik/ECE587015/paula-larrain-skifter-kreds/|url-access=subscription|website=Politiken|language=da-DK}} Larrain was not elected, and has since withdrawn from her political career. She then became the campaign manager of the Danish Shipowners' Association tasked with recruiting young Danes.{{cite news|date=14 March 2008|title=Paula Larrain til Danmarks Rederiforening|language=da|work=Maritime Danmark|url=https://www.maritimedanmark.dk/?Id=1514}}
Larrain was previously married to Morten Løkkegaard and the couple have a son, though they have since separated. In 2015, she married Frederik Bjørn, with whom she has a second son.{{cite news|last=Børjesen|first=Jesper Rise|date=3 October 2015|title=Paula Larrain gift|language=da|work=Ekstra Bladet|url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/flash/dkkendte/paula-larrain-gift/5763913}}{{Cite web|last=Bjerre|first=Britta|date=2010-03-12|title=Paula Larrain på kig efter stjerner|url=https://www.femina.dk/soendag/kendte-kvinder/paula-larrain-paa-kig-efter-stjerner|access-date=2021-01-01|website=Søndag|language=da}}
Bibliography
- I morgen skal vi hjem, 2003
- Uden for citat, 2008
References
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Category:21st-century Danish politicians
Category:21st-century Danish journalists
Category:Danish women journalists
Category:21st-century Danish women writers
Category:Writers from Valparaíso
Category:Conservative People's Party (Denmark) politicians
Category:Danish television presenters
Category:Danish women television presenters
Category:Danish radio presenters
Category:Danish women radio presenters