Shirly Karvinen

Karvinen was born to a Finnish father and a Chinese mother in Finland. Due to her father's work in an asphalt paving company, she spent her early childhood living in Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Saudi Arabia. In her teens, she also lived in Beijing as an exchange student, while spending time with her mother's side of the family.

Karvinen speaks Finnish and English. She also knows the basics of Mandarin Chinese.

Karvinen has most recently studied in the Bachelor of Business Administration program at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki. As part of her studies, she also worked as an administrative assistant in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Helsinki and the Embassy of Finland in Washington, D.C.