She’s the Finnish singer who placed second on the X Factor UK and returned home as a national hero.

And on Tuesday Saara Aalto was still riding a high as she revealed that she will join the judging panel of X Factor Suomi.

The “No Fear” singer made the announcement on her Instagram account, explaining that auditions will take place this September, and that singers, rappers, bands and performers must submit their applications on the X Factor Suomi web site by July 31.

“BIG BIG announcement coming tomorrow,” she wrote on Monday evening, teasing today’s announcement. “So excited about all these new things in my life at the moment. Life is an adventure. Just keep on flying, it can sometimes be scary but you always end up where you are meant to be.”

“I have, since childhood, had the desire to do television,” she says on MTV Finland’s official X Factor web site. “I’ve always sung and did not know that I want to be a singer, but I have since childhood also shot my own television programs and forced my little sister to act in them. I starred in them, filmed them and worked as director.”

Saara certainly has reality singing show experience. She finished second in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu — Finland’s Eurovision pre-selection — in 2011 (with “Blessed with Love”) and 2016 (with “No Fear”). In 2012 she placed second on The Voice of Finland.

“I’m at least a mentor who knows how to come second!” she jokes. “Winning I’m not so sure, but I’ve been second five times.”

Saara joins a heavyweight panel of judges that includes rock-icon Michael MonroeFinnish music superstar Suvi Teräsniska and rapper Mikael Gabriel.

In December, just days after the X Factor UK final, pop princess Saara revealed that she had signed not one, but two record deals.

At a press conference in Helsinki, Saara announced that she had signed with Sony Music UK — the record company that’s also home to Simon Cowell’s record label Syco.

But it didn’t stop there. The Nordic starlet also picked up a record deal in her home country with Sony Music Finland.

Speaking to YLE on December 12, Sony Finland’s managing director Wemppa Koivumäki cited Saara’s “global talent” and said that Finland “is too small a country for Saara.”

But he offered her a local deal anyway and Saara did not refuse.

Are you excited that Saara will be mentoring young Finnish talent? Are you already trying to figure out how you can watch the show from abroad? Let us know in the comments box below!

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Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago

Finland needs to send a rock song next year 🙂 Thats how they do their best scores in ESC. And they have great rock music….the contest needs more rock in general

Hannele Arranlinna
6 years ago

Thank you William Lee Adams for your multitalented article ? and for the previous interviews too! The one you published on YouTube is really excellent. The best writer and journalist in pop music genre, such a pleasure to listen to you and to read your commentary.
For sure it’s just fabulous she will be in the Xfactor Finland as judge. As an performing and recording artist Saara will just kill it! ?Besides, Matt Terry and Five After Midnight are not so bad either, and their albums won’t fail either! ????????

Napaw
Napaw
6 years ago

Wow, Goldie Hawn is in the jury, too.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Napaw

hahahaha

Geo
Geo
6 years ago

Finland, be smart and send Saara Aalto or Mikael Saari to Eurovision! Big voices, great performers… I loved Mikael’s song “We Should Be Through” from UMK 2013, the year when Finland made a huge mistake and sent the horrible Krista Siegfrids – “Marry Me”, an annoying, cheesy, trashy pop song and although it passed the semifinal it got a well deserved 24th place in the grand final. Also, in 2016 Mikael competed again, with another masterpiece – “On It Goes”, but again…Finland made another mistake and picked Sandhja’s “Sing It Away” (an obvious non-qualifier in Eurovision). Even though…sometimes I think… Read more »

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Why won’t she release new music?

Louis Enright
Louis Enright
6 years ago

Ikr! She has a record deal for a reason and I was looking forward to her “big news.” I was disappointed when she announced them- she needs to realise that not all of her fans are Finnish or gay.

Mark
Mark
6 years ago

These shows are stupid. How can someone go from contestant to judge within less than a year? Tell us they’re cashing in on her name and not her ability to judge.

???
???
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Maybe this info (! not up to date) makes it acceptable for you … – https://fi.linkedin.com/in/saara-aalto-343aa838

Angela
Angela
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

To be fair to Saara, Mark, we are not talking about someone being a musical novice here. Saara has competed on both the The Voice Finland and Finland’s Got Talent many years ago. She has released five albums under her own label Yume and performed extensively. She tried twice to be selected for Finland’s Eurovision entry and came second both times. She is not unknown in Finland. She is classically trained in both piano and singing (at the highest level) and is musically speaking, more than qualified to know both what a great vocalist is and to give direction. If… Read more »

#CircleIsClosed
#CircleIsClosed
6 years ago

Michael was Saara’s coach on The Voice Of Finland and now there are couches together on the same panel. AMAZING! 🙂