Former world leader reveals what she’s most frustrated about after leaving office, and it has nothing to do with politics

Finland’s former Prime Minister Sanna Marin is really frustrated that her great four years in office are being overshadowed by a viral dance video. Two years after she left her position, Marin, who is 40 years old, says she’s still better known around the world for her “shimmy” than for her actual work in politics. You have to admit, that’s pretty annoying when you’ve guided a country through a global pandemic and a huge geopolitical change.

According to The Sun, Marin confirmed that even today, the dance moves are still what people remember her for. She told the media just how small that moment was compared to everything else, saying: “That night was, maybe, six hours of my life.”

It’s easy to forget just how much Marin accomplished while she was in charge, especially since the focus has been on her personal life. When she took the top job in 2019, she was only 34, making her the youngest sitting Prime Minister in the world. She successfully led Finland through the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping the death toll very low compared to many other countries. Even more importantly, she brought the country into NATO, securing a massive win for national security.

A viral moment shouldn’t define leadership

The media storm started just months after Finland announced its NATO membership bid. Videos of Marin dancing, singing, and drinking with friends in what looked like an apartment were posted online. The video featured several public figures, including Finnish singer Alma, rapper Petri Nygard, and TV host Tinni Wikstrom, along with members of Marin’s own Social Democratic party.

The clips spread like wildfire and caused global speculation, especially after someone off-camera mentioned a “powder gang.” This was seen by some as hinting at cocaine, although other social media users suggested the term was more likely a reference to a popular Finnish alcoholic drink that sounds similar in the native language.

Regardless, the rumors continued and caused global concern over whether or not she had taken drugs. To shut down the gossip and protect her reputation, Marin paid for a drug test, which thankfully came back negative. She consistently denied seeing any drugs at the party.

Marin is still angry about the uproar, arguing that the attention was driven by a “layer of misogyny.” She insists a male leader would never have faced the same level of scrutiny. That’s a powerful point, and I think she’s right about the double standard. Political figures across the spectrum have faced similar controversies, including Hunter Biden’s recent comments about Democrats.

She asked a key question that truly highlights the issue: “Nobody ever asked a male leader: ‘How can you come to work today and be that professional you, when you yesterday went to a pub with your guy friends?'” Now, Marin is trying to take back her public image by releasing a memoir. In the book, she argues that she fought to create a “world where you can, yes, dance freely when the day’s work is done.”

Marin has always been open about her love for going out with friends and has often been photographed at music festivals. The conversation around female political leaders continues to evolve, with figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene speaking about leadership challenges.