Saara Aalto#Discography

Born in Oulunsalo, Finland, Aalto grew up in a musical family and received piano lessons from pianist and pedagogue Olga Maslak, born in Odessa, Soviet Union.{{cite web |author=Juha Sutela |url=http://www.kaleva.fi/uutiset/kulttuuri/unohtumaton-ilta-olgan-kunniaksi/483705/ |title=Unohtumaton ilta Olgan kunniaksi |publisher=kaleva.fi |date=14 October 2002 |access-date=8 March 2017 |archive-date=9 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109081256/http://www.kaleva.fi/uutiset/kulttuuri/unohtumaton-ilta-olgan-kunniaksi/483705/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Kimmo Pihlajamaa, Yrjö Mikkonen and Sari Hourula |url=http://kirjastolinkit.ouka.fi/kaleva/kes%C3%A409/8448538.xml |title=Oulun musiikkielämän grand old lady |publisher=kaleva.fi |access-date=8 March 2017 |archive-date=9 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309065246/http://kirjastolinkit.ouka.fi/kaleva/kes%C3%A409/8448538.xml |url-status=live }} Aalto wrote her first song at the age of five. Her grandfather is painter and documentary director Eeli Aalto and magician Simo Aalto is her uncle. In 1998 at age 11, she won the Kotka Maritime Festival song contest for children with one of her own compositions. Aalto also won the Charlotte Church{{cite web |author=Saara Aalto |url=https://www.facebook.com/saaraaaltoofficial/posts/10154911075901071 |title=I wanted to learn to sing like Charlotte Church |publisher=facebook |date=8 March 2016 |access-date=12 March 2017 |archive-date=21 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121132600/https://www.facebook.com/saaraaaltoofficial/posts/10154911075901071 |url-status=live }} international singing competition, organised in US, in 2003 with her own composition.{{cite web |author=Josh Darvill |url=http://www.tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-x-factor/292550-x-factor-2016-saara-aalto-charlotte-church-share-surprise-connection.html |title=X Factor 2016: Saara Aalto and Charlotte Church share a surprise connection |publisher=TellyMix |date=9 December 2016 |access-date=8 March 2017 |archive-date=19 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219162320/http://www.tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-x-factor/292550-x-factor-2016-saara-aalto-charlotte-church-share-surprise-connection.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |author=Satu Koho |url=https://www.forum24.fi/sivut/artikkeli/14189/Mit-mietti-maailmanvalloittaja-Saara-Aalto-uransa-alussa-Forum24-haastatteli-laulajaa-kevll-2008_ |title=Mitä mietti maailmanvalloittaja Saara Aalto uransa alussa? Forum24 haastatteli laulajaa keväällä 2008. |publisher=forum24.fi |date=8 May 2008 |access-date=8 March 2017 |archive-date=9 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309064229/https://www.forum24.fi/sivut/artikkeli/14189/Mit-mietti-maailmanvalloittaja-Saara-Aalto-uransa-alussa-Forum24-haastatteli-laulajaa-kevll-2008_ |url-status=dead }} Aalto represented Finland in the Golden Stag International Song Contest in Romania in 2004. She went to the Madetoja secondary school for music, where she graduated in 2005. After graduation, she moved to Helsinki to study music at the Sibelius Academy, and at the same time also studied singing in the Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory.{{cite web |url=http://www.saaraaalto.com/bio/ |title=Bio | Saara Aalto |access-date=3 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131003222910/http://www.saaraaalto.com/bio/ |archive-date=3 October 2013 }}

In 2007, she participated in Talent Suomi ("Talent Finland"), finishing in the top three.{{cite web |url=http://umami.fi/kulttuuri/musiikki-kulttuuri/news/saara-aalto-konsertoi-helsingissa/ |title=Saara Aalto konsertoi Helsingissä » Umami |publisher=Umami.fi |access-date=4 September 2013 |archive-date=14 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214212122/http://umami.fi/kulttuuri/musiikki-kulttuuri/news/saara-aalto-konsertoi-helsingissa/ |url-status=dead }}

In addition to her singing career, Aalto is also an actress, having starred as Dorothy and Pfannee in the Finnish production of the musical Wicked and as Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar.{{cite web |url=http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=91070&string=Saara |title=Finnish Pop Star Saara Aalto To Perform At The Award & Closing Ceremony For The Shanghai International Film Festival |publisher=top40-charts.com |access-date=4 September 2013 |archive-date=9 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109080815/http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=91070&string=Saara |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000002534715.html |title=Saara Aalto pestattu Maria Magdalenaksi Lahteen |publisher=hs.fi |date=1 June 2012 |access-date=3 March 2017 |archive-date=10 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110005205/https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000002534715.html |url-status=live }} From 2008 to 2011, she appeared in the Helsinki City Theatre musicals, first as Kelsi in High School Musical on Stage! and its second installment, and then in Wicked.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.fi/viihde/ohjelmat/x-factor-uk/uutiset/artikkeli/kuvat-muistatko-viela-nain-saara-aalto-nousi-julkisuuteen/6206044 |title=Kuvat: Muistatko vielä? Näin Saara Aalto nousi julkisuuteen |publisher=mtv.fi |date=11 December 2016 |access-date=3 March 2017 |archive-date=28 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228000707/https://www.mtv.fi/viihde/ohjelmat/x-factor-uk/uutiset/artikkeli/kuvat-muistatko-viela-nain-saara-aalto-nousi-julkisuuteen/6206044 |url-status=dead }}

Aalto took part on two separate occasions in the selection process in a bid to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest. She participated in the qualifying rounds in Finland for Eurovision 2011, placing second to Paradise Oskar who went on to represent Finland. She received 40.7% of the public televotes, compared to 46.7% for Oskar.{{cite web|title=Finland sends Paradise Oskar to Düsseldorf!|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=25203&_t=finland_sends_paradise_oskar_to_duesseldorf|access-date=6 February 2017|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924132054/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=25203&_t=finland_sends_paradise_oskar_to_duesseldorf|url-status=live}} Aalto's recording was released as a single by Yume Records, a self-released record label she founded together with Teemu Roivainen in 2011.

Her second bid to represent Finland was for Eurovision Song Contest 2016 through the competition Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu, again placing second.{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/ensimmaiset_umk-finalistit_valittu__onko_joku_heista_suomen_euroviisuedustaja/8654646|title=Ensimmäiset UMK-finalistit valittu – onko joku heistä Suomen euroviisuedustaja?|publisher=Yle|date=6 February 2016|access-date=7 February 2016|archive-date=12 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312105241/http://yle.fi/uutiset/ensimmaiset_umk-finalistit_valittu__onko_joku_heista_suomen_euroviisuedustaja/8654646|url-status=live}} Although winning the public vote, she was disadvantaged with the judging vote going to the eventual winner Sandhja who went on to represent Finland with the song "Sing It Away".{{cite web|title=UMK 2016: FINLAND REVEALS FULL RESULTS OF TELEVOTE AND JURIES|date=2 March 2016|url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2016/03/02/umk-2016-full-results-revealed/129687/|publisher=wiwibloggs.com|access-date=6 February 2017|archive-date=27 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727112709/http://wiwibloggs.com/2016/03/02/umk-2016-full-results-revealed/129687/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.esc-plus.com/saara-aalto-i-want-my-song-to-be-the-happy-funeral-of-fear-where-people-are-dancing-together-finnish-semifinalist-exclusive-interview/|title=Saara Aalto: "I want my song to be the happy funeral of fear, where people are dancing together!" (Finnish semifinalist – Exclusive Interview)|author=Tony Rojas|date=29 January 2016|publisher=www.esc-plus.com|access-date=3 February 2017|archive-date=9 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009194555/http://www.esc-plus.com/saara-aalto-i-want-my-song-to-be-the-happy-funeral-of-fear-where-people-are-dancing-together-finnish-semifinalist-exclusive-interview/|url-status=dead}}

Following her performance of "Blessed with Love" for qualification in Eurovision 2011, that December she was involved in the Santa Claus Season's Greetings Song Contest, where she sang "Ai De Zhu Fu," a Chinese (Mandarin) version of her Eurovision song "Blessed with Love".{{cite web |url=http://www.finland.cn/Public/default.aspx?contentid=236100&nodeid=35178&culture=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304113911/http://www.finland.cn/Public/default.aspx?contentid=236100&nodeid=35178&culture=en-US |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2017 |title=Chinese listeners to vote for best Finnish SANTA CLAUS SEASON'S GREETINGS SONG 2012 |publisher=Finland.cn |access-date=3 March 2017 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.finland.cn/public/default.aspx?contentid=237411&nodeid=35178&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI |title=Negative voitti joululaulukilpailun |website=Suomen suurlähetystö, Peking -Suomen pääkonsulaatti, Shanghai |language=fi |publisher=Finland.cn |date=29 December 2011 |access-date=4 September 2013 |archive-date=14 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214210514/http://www.finland.cn/public/default.aspx?contentid=237411&nodeid=35178&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI |url-status=dead }}

In November 2012, Aalto was guest vocalist at Robert Wells's highly successful show Rhapsody in Rock{{cite web|url=http://rhapsodyinrock.se/en/ |title=Rhapsody in Rock: Startsidan |access-date=3 March 2017}} at Shanghai Daning theatre.{{cite web |url=http://centerstagechina.com/cases.html |title=Robert Wells - "Rhapsody In Rock" Shanghai Edition with guests Saara Aalto, Jia Ruhan & Chen Jun |publisher=centerstagechina.com |access-date=3 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304041312/http://centerstagechina.com/cases.html |archive-date=4 March 2017 }}{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/51811776 |title=Saara Aalto: 'What if you would sing in China?' |publisher=dreamdo |date=1 January 2012 |access-date=15 March 2017}} Following a successful performance in Shanghai in May 2013, opening for Spanish tenor José Carreras and singing several songs in Chinese, Aalto returned to the city to duet with tenor Han Peng at the Closing Ceremony of the Shanghai International Film Festival in June 2013, broadcast to over 800 million viewers in 10 countries.{{cite web |author=Heini Kangasluoma |url=http://www.mtv.fi/viihde/musiikki/artikkeli/saara-aalto-kiinassa-rankan-alun-jalkeen-maailmantahtien-eteen/2867230 |title=Saara Aalto Kiinassa: Rankan alun jälkeen maailmantähtien eteen |publisher=mtv.fi |date=23 June 2013 |access-date=7 March 2017 |archive-date=9 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109140800/https://www.mtv.fi/viihde/musiikki/artikkeli/saara-aalto-kiinassa-rankan-alun-jalkeen-maailmantahtien-eteen/2867230 |url-status=dead }}

Finding great reception from Chinese audiences, in July 2013 Aalto went on to release a full album destined for Mainland China and other Chinese markets also titled Ai De Zhu Fu. On the album she performed nine of the album's 13 tracks in Mandarin language.

Aalto participated in season one of The Voice of Finland. In the blind auditions, broadcast on 6 February 2012 on the Finnish commercial television channel Nelonen, she performed "Taking Chances" from Celine Dion with all four coaches, Elastinen, Lauri Tähkä, Paula Koivuniemi and Michael Monroe turning their chairs. She opted to be part of Team Monroe.

In the Battle Round on 17 February, she was confronted with team competitor Anna Inginmaa, both singing "True Colors". Coach Monroe opted for Aalto to go to the next round. In the live show on 23 March, she sang "Barracuda" and was saved by Monroe after failing to get enough votes from the public. She followed it up with the French language "Je suis malade" from Serge Lama and was safe after the public vote. In the semifinals with her rendition of "Over the Rainbow", she qualified for the finals held on 20 April where she sang "I'm Gonna Be Strong" from Frankie Laine and an original song titled "My Love". She placed second to winner Mikko Sipola.{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/viihde/a/2012020315152992 |title=Voice of Finland: Riitaa laulajista! | Viihde |publisher=Iltalehti.fi |access-date=4 September 2013}}

Aalto auditioned for the thirteenth UK series of The X Factor in 2016 in front of attending judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger, singing a cover of Sia's "Chandelier", which earned her three yeses from the judges.{{cite web|url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2016/08/28/finlands-saara-aalto-nails-x-factor-uk-audition/149412/|title="That's How You Do It!" Finland's Saara Aalto Nails X Factor UK Audition|date=29 August 2016|publisher=Wiwibloggs|website=wiwibloggs.com|last=Rahn|first=Florian}} At Bootcamp, she performed "On the Radio" by Donna Summer and was sent through as part of the over-25s category, mentored by Sharon Osbourne, who was not present at her audition. At the six-chair challenge, she performed "I See Fire" by Ed Sheeran and was sent home by Osbourne who stated a lack of connection. However, after the crowd chanted to bring her back, Aalto was given a second chance and performed "Je suis malade" by Serge Lama, which caused the crowd to turn on her, while Scherzinger criticized her song choice, stating "we ain't in France". Osbourne then asked Aalto to leave.

Aalto was brought back as Scherzinger's wildcard pick for the over-25s category and therefore went to judges' houses. She was chosen by Osbourne to proceed to the live shows after performing "The Winner Takes It All". In week 1 of the live shows, Aalto finished in the bottom three alongside Freddy Parker and duo Bratavio, after performing "Let It Go". As Parker was saved by the lifeline vote, Aalto faced a sing-off against Bratavio, where she performed "Alive", and was saved with only Walsh voting to eliminate her. The following week, she sang "River Deep – Mountain High" and finished again in the bottom three, this time alongside Ryan Lawrie and Parker. As Lawrie was saved by the lifeline vote, Aalto performed "Run" in a sing-off against Parker. Walsh and Osbourne voted to eliminate Parker while Scherzinger and Cowell, who had the casting vote, voted to eliminate Aalto. The result went to deadlock and Aalto was saved as she had the higher public vote. In week 3 she performed "It's Oh So Quiet" coming 2nd in the public vote, and in week 4 Aalto sang "Bad Romance", placing 3rd in the public vote. In week 5, Aalto finished in the bottom three for the third time alongside Sam Lavery and group Four of Diamonds, after her rendition of "Sound of the Underground". As Lavery was saved by the lifeline vote, Aalto performed "Who You Are" in a sing-off against Four of Diamonds, and was saved with only Walsh voting to eliminate her. Voting statistics revealed that Aalto would have never been in the sing-off had there been no lifeline vote since she was the third least voted on the main vote all three weeks. Her following performances were "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" in week 6 placing 2nd and "My Heart Will Go On" in week 7 again placing 2nd. In the quarter-final, she sang "The Winner Takes It All" and a medley of "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend", topping the public vote for the first time.{{cite web|title=Voting stats 2016 revealed|url=http://www.itv.com/xfactor/news/voting-stats-2016|website=ITV|access-date=22 December 2016|date=11 December 2016|archive-date=28 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928043914/http://www.itv.com/xfactor/news/voting-stats-2016|url-status=live}} Following the eliminations of Relley C in week 3 and Honey G in the quarter-final, Aalto became Osbourne's last remaining act in the competition.

In the semi-final, she sang a medley of "White Christmas" and "All I Want for Christmas Is You", and "Chandelier" as her second song, topping the vote again reaching the final, where on 10 December she performed "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and "Bohemian Rhapsody", the latter as a duet with Adam Lambert, again topping the public vote. With the elimination of the group 5 After Midnight she was in the top 2 alongside Matt Terry. In the final on 11 December, she performed "It's Oh So Quiet" and "I Didn't Know My Own Strength". In the ensuing public vote, she placed as the runner-up to eventual winner Matt Terry with 40.4% of the votes.

In a press conference in December 2016, Aalto revealed that she works with the joint effort of ROAR Global and Global career management companies,{{cite web|title=Saara Aalto kertoi tulevaisuuden suunnitelmistaan lehdistötilaisuudessa|url=http://www.mtv.fi/viihde/ohjelmat/x-factor-uk/uutiset/artikkeli/live-klo-16-25-saara-aalto-kertoo-tulevaisuuden-suunnitelmansa-seuraa-lehdistotilaisuutta-suorana/6221130|publisher=mtv.fi|access-date=14 March 2017|date=20 December 2016|archive-date=15 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315004038/http://www.mtv.fi/viihde/ohjelmat/x-factor-uk/uutiset/artikkeli/live-klo-16-25-saara-aalto-kertoo-tulevaisuuden-suunnitelmansa-seuraa-lehdistotilaisuutta-suorana/6221130|url-status=dead}} and that she has signed a five-album recording deal with Sony Music UK and Sony Music Finland.{{cite web|last1=Harp|first1=Justin|title=X Factor{{'}}s Saara Aalto lands a huge record deal|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/the-x-factor/news/a817415/x-factor-saara-aalto-record-deal-writing-with-sia/|website=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Corporation|access-date=20 December 2016|location=United Kingdom|date=20 December 2016}} In October 2017, Aalto announced she had left Sony Music for Warner Music Group. In a statement, she said: "I was honoured I was signed to Sony. But later I felt like they weren't the right team. When I met the people at Warner they were very excited about my style and making me into this big theatrical artist."{{cite web|last1=Mitchell|first1=Bea|title=Saara Aalto leaves Simon Cowell for a new record deal|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/the-x-factor/news/a841442/x-factors-saara-aalto-record-deal-leaves-simon-cowell/|website=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Corporation|access-date=25 October 2017|location=United Kingdom|language=en|date=25 October 2017}} On 7 November 2017, it was announced that Aalto would represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal.{{cite web|url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2017/11/07/finland-umk-acts-details-revealed-press-conference/200429/|title=Saara Aalto is Finland's Eurovision 2018 act...and will sing three songs during the UMK final|date=7 November 2017|publisher=Wiwibloggs|website=wiwibloggs.com|last=Halpin|first=Chris}} The three bidding entries were released by Yle and Saara Aalto, along with an accompanying music video.{{cite web|last=Weaver|first=Jessica|url=http://esctoday.com/155874/finland-umk-18-songs-released-next-month-first-song-9-february/|title=Finland: UMK18 songs to be released next month; first song on 9 February|publisher=ESCtoday.com|access-date=15 January 2018|date=10 January 2018|archive-date=16 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116004425/http://esctoday.com/155874/finland-umk-18-songs-released-next-month-first-song-9-february/|url-status=live}} Aalto was a judge on the second series of the Finnish version of The X Factor, mentoring the girls. Aalto could not attend the finale night of The X Factor Finland due to her commitments with Eurovision, so Terry represented her instead, but her category's last girl, Tika Liljegren, was crowned the winner, making Aalto the winning mentor.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} Aalto announced in March 2018 via social media that her first album under Warner Music Group, Wild Wild Wonderland, would be released on 27 April 2018.{{cite web|title=Saara Aalto to release Wild Wild Wonderland on April 27th|url=https://www.escxtra.com/2018/03/28/saara-aalto-to-release-wild-wild-wonderland-on-april-27th/|website=Escxtra|date=28 March 2018|access-date=11 April 2018}}

In 2019 Aalto participated in the eleventh series of Dancing on Ice. She was partnered with Hamish Gaman, and after reaching the final, she and Garman finished in third place.{{Cite web|url=https://escxtra.com/2019/03/10/saara-aalto-places-3rd-on-dancing-on-ice/|title=Saara Aalto places 3rd on Dancing on Ice|last=eurovisiontj|date=10 March 2019|website=ESCXTRA.com|language=en-US|access-date=10 March 2019}} Aalto's song Dance Like Nobody's Watching was the official song of Pride in London 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://prideinlondon.org/news-and-views/saara-aaltos-dance-like-nobodys-watching-is-official-song-for-pride-in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606162657/https://prideinlondon.org/news-and-views/saara-aaltos-dance-like-nobodys-watching-is-official-song-for-pride-in/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2019|title=Saara Aalto's 'Dance Like Nobody's Watching' is official song for Pride in London 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://divamag.co.uk/2019/06/04/saara-aaltos-dance-like-nobodys-watching-is-the-official-song-for-pride-in-london-2019/|title=Saara Aalto's Dance Like Nobody's Watching is the official song for Pride in London 2019|date=4 June 2019}} That same year, Aalto founded her own record label titled No Fear Music. It was under that label she released her Fairytale – International EP.

In September 2020, Aalto announced the release of her single, "When the Sun Goes Down", a collaboration with British drag queen Baga Chipz. She was also revealed to have parted ways with Warner Music in spring 2020.

In the fall of 2021, Aalto played the lead role in the musical We Will Rock You in Helsinki, Finland.{{Cite web|title=SAARA AALTO : We Will Rock You -musikaali|url=https://www.wewillrockyou.fi/roles/saara-aalto/|access-date=2022-01-06|language=fi}}

Aalto was in a nine-year relationship with singer {{ill|Teemu Roivainen|fi}} which ended in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/viihde/art-2000000608543.html|title=Me Naiset: Saara Aalto erosi miehestään 9 yhteisen vuoden jälkeen|publisher=Ilta-Sanomat|date=2 May 2013|access-date=2 January 2024|archive-date=26 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726232739/https://www.is.fi/viihde/art-2000000608543.html|url-status=live}} The two continued collaborating in music.

Aalto later began a relationship with a female fan, Meri Sopanen, who worked as a personal trainer and life coach;{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.fi/viihde/ohjelmat/x-factor-uk/uutiset/artikkeli/saara-aallon-meri-rakas-avoimessa-haastattelussa-ensisuudelma-tapahtui-minun-aloitteestani/6108454|title=Saara Aallon Meri-rakas avoimessa haastattelussa: Ensisuudelma tapahtui minun aloitteestani|publisher=mtv.fi|date=16 October 2016|access-date=3 February 2017|archive-date=6 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106102727/http://www.mtv.fi/viihde/ohjelmat/x-factor-uk/uutiset/artikkeli/saara-aallon-meri-rakas-avoimessa-haastattelussa-ensisuudelma-tapahtui-minun-aloitteestani/6108454|url-status=dead}} she has since identified as a lesbian.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/x-factors-saara-alto-proud-9465636|publisher=Mirror|title=X Factor's Saara Aalto was one of Finland's first open lesbian artists and is proud to be an inspiration|date=15 December 2016|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-date=23 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123015054/https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/x-factors-saara-alto-proud-9465636|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/saaraaalto/status/809747211789750272|publisher=twitter|title=Sanonut et ekoja naisartisteja parisuhteessa naisen kans,niitä ei paljon julkisuudessa ole. Pitää olla varovainen sanavalintojen kans..media|date=16 December 2016|access-date=5 February 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/12/23/saara-alto-opens-up-about-her-sexuality-as-she-poses-in-stunning-new-photo-shoot/|title=Saara Aalto opens up about her sexuality as she poses in stunning new photo shoot: 'I've always known gender doesn't matter for me. But now, being with a woman, it's hard to imagine going back to men.'|publisher=PinkNews|date=23 December 2016|access-date=15 March 2017|last=Butterworth|first=Benjamin|archive-date=16 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316113544/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/12/23/saara-alto-opens-up-about-her-sexuality-as-she-poses-in-stunning-new-photo-shoot/|url-status=live}} Aalto and Sopanen became engaged on their second anniversary in August 2016,{{cite web|url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2016/10/04/x-factor-reveals-saara-aaltos-fear-needles-heat-magazine-reports-engagement/152146/|title=X FACTOR REVEALS SAARA AALTO'S FEAR OF NEEDLES…AS HEAT MAGAZINE REPORTS ON HER ENGAGEMENT|publisher=Wiwibloggs|last=Adams|first=William Lee|date=4 October 2016|access-date=8 October 2016|archive-date=29 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129231401/https://wiwibloggs.com/2016/10/04/x-factor-reveals-saara-aaltos-fear-needles-heat-magazine-reports-engagement/152146/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/946913/x-factor-saara-aalto-reveals-moment-girlfriend-proposed-meri|title=X Factor's Saara Aalto exclusively reveals the moment her girlfriend proposed: 'For me, it was a surprise!'|publisher=OK!|date=22 November 2016|last=Douglas|first=Nicole|access-date=22 November 2016|archive-date=14 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414030537/https://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/946913/x-factor-saara-aalto-reveals-moment-girlfriend-proposed-meri|url-status=live}} and moved to London in January 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/saaraaaltoofficial/photos/a.10150146605026071.340746.166918106070/10154790961986071/?type=3&theater|title=Moving to London|publisher=Saara Aalto|date=26 January 2017|access-date=3 February 2017|archive-date=21 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621043613/https://www.facebook.com/saaraaaltoofficial/photos/a.10150146605026071.340746.166918106070/10154790961986071/?type=3&theater=|url-status=live}} The couple married in April 2020,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/saaraaalto/status/1255457395897176067|title=Saara Aalto on Twitter|publisher=twitter.com|date=29 April 2020|access-date=29 April 2020}} with Sopanen adopting Aalto's surname, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic they were not able to hold a wedding ceremony and moved back to Finland in the spring of 2020. In the fall of 2021, the couple had a temporary home in Spain before returning to Finland in November.{{Cite web|title=Saara Aalto repäisi Merin kanssa – uusi koti etelän auringossa: "Meillä on vain menolippu"|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/viihdeuutiset/a/87894dbf-1d4b-4dd5-b145-85c869be3da2|access-date=2022-01-06|website=www.iltalehti.fi|language=fi}} They celebrated their wedding in Italy in June 2023.{{cite web|last=Poutanen|first=Nina|url=https://escbubble.com/2023/06/saara-and-meri-aalto-finally-got-their-wedding-celebration-in-italy/|title=Saara And Meri Aalto Finally Got Their Wedding Celebration In Italy|work=ESCBubble|date=25 June 2023|access-date=25 June 2023}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{IMDb name|3703565|Saara Aalto}}
• [https://twitter.com/saaraaalto?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Saara Aalto] on Twitter
• {{Official website|http://www.saaraaalto.com/}}

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{{Succession box|

| before=Norma John
with "Blackbird"

| title=Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest

| years=2018

| after=Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman
with "Look Away"

}}

{{S-end}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2018|state=autocollapse}}

{{Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=autocollapse}}

{{The X Factor contestants}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Aalto, Saara}}

Category:1987 births

Category:20th-century Finnish women singers

Category:21st-century Finnish actresses

Category:21st-century Finnish women singers

Category:Finnish expatriates in England

Category:Finnish pop singers

Category:Finnish women pop singers

Category:21st-century Finnish women pianists

Category:21st-century Finnish pianists

Category:Finnish women songwriters

Category:Finnish stage actresses

Category:Finnish voice actresses

Category:Lesbian songwriters

Category:Finnish LGBTQ singers

Category:Finnish LGBTQ songwriters

Category:Finnish lesbian actresses

Category:Finnish lesbian musicians

Category:Living people

Category:Actors from Oulu

Category:Sibelius Academy alumni

Category:The Voice (franchise) contestants

Category:The X Factor (British TV series) contestants

Category:20th-century Finnish LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century Finnish LGBTQ people

Category:English-language singers from Finland

Category:Mandarin-language singers

Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants