Catarina Arvidsson

**Children** | 2

**Catarina Anna-Maria Arvidsson** (born 23 December 1979) is an Estian television presenter and former glamour model. Arvidsson is best known for hosting *Kes on meie järgmine täht?* from 2007 until 2016.

Born in Orav, Arvidsson is a Saarapuu Mede. After completing secondary school in 1999, Arvidsson moved to Otesalu, where she began a career as a glamour model. Arvidsson left her modeling career in 2004, in order to enter hosting. She was hired by Eesto Raadio (ER) that year and began cohosting a music program out of Orav for Medish-speaking audiences. After one year, she was transferred to Otesalu and began cohosting a similar program for Estian-speaking audiences. In 2006, she became a video jockey (VJ) on Eesto Televisioon (ET).

In 2007, Arvidsson was hired as the new host of *Kes on meie järgmine täht?*, replacing Arja Iivle, who had hosted the show from 2002 until 2006. After her hiring, Arvidsson became the first Saarapuu Mede to host a primetime television show in Estland, and was hailed by the Saarapuu media as the "most famous Saarapuu Mede in Estland." Arvidsson's tenure as the show's host oversaw its highest ratings in history. In a 2018 poll, she was ranked by viewers as the best host of *Kes on meie järgmine täht?* in its history. Arvidsson later left the show in 2016, and was replaced by Anja Jõgi and Oskar Meeling.

## Early life and education

Arvidsson was born on 23 December 1979 in Orav to parents Eduard Arvidsson (born 1946) and Salome Gustafsson (born 1950). Her father worked in telecommunications, while her mother was a primary school teacher. Arvidsson is a Saarapuu Mede, and her native language is Medish. She later learned Estian in school. Arvidsson is the eldest of three children; her younger siblings include Oscar (born 1982) and Thea (born 1983).

Arvidsson began her education in 1986, attending a public primary school in Orav. While in primary school, Arvidsson was a popular student who aspired to one day host her own talk show. After graduating from primary school in 1996, Arvidsson enrolled in Orav Secondary School, where she studied a program in communications and media studies. She graduated from the school in 1999.

## Career

### Modeling

After graduating from secondary school in 1999, Arvidsson moved to Otesalu to pursue a career in media. After struggling to find work, she was recommended by a friend to pursue glamour modeling. Arvidsson was then signed to a modeling agency and began work as a glamour model, appearing in pictorials and magazine spreads.

In 2001, Arvidsson registered for the Miss Saarapuu beauty pageant, but was disqualified by pageant organizers after discovering that Arvidsson was a glamour model who had posed nude, which is against pageant rules. Her disqualification subsequently became a minor news headline in the Saarapuu media. Arvidsson later left her modeling career in 2004.

### Hosting

After leaving modeling in 2004, Arvidsson wished to pursue hosting. After serving as an emcee for several small-scale events in Otesalu, Arvidsson was hired by Eesto Raadio (ER) in 2004. In the position, she relocated to Orav to cohost the program *Sarhamm NÄSTA*, a music show broadcasting upcoming musicians in the Estian and Medish music industries. After successful feedback, Arvidsson was relocated by ER to Otesalu to host *ER Järgmine*, the Estian equivalent of *Sarhamm NÄSTA*.

After hosting *ER Järgmine* for one year, Arvidsson left her career in radio in 2006, after being hired by Eesto Televisioon (ET). Arvidsson began her career with the broadcaster as a video jockey (VJ) for the music program *Topphit* on Eesto 4, the channel of the Estian broadcaster targeting youth audiences. In the position, Arvidsson introduced music videos for popular musicians that played in between programs, and also hosted an interview program where she interviewed notable musicians in Estland.

In 2007, Arvidsson was hired as the new host for the upcoming season of *Kes on meie järgmine täht?*, the long-running music competition series. Arvidsson was the direct successor of Arja Iivle, who had hosted the series from 2002 until 2006. Arvidsson went on to host the show for nine seasons, departing in 2016. Arvidsson was later voted by viewers as the best host in the show's history in 2018. During her tenure, *Kes on meie järgmine täht?* saw its highest ratings in history.

## Personal life

Arvidsson married Estian male model and realtor Taavi Padar in 2008, after six years of dating. They have two children together: Karl-Erik (born 2012) and Birgit (born 2015). The family resides in Tüsamaa Parish, and also owns a beach house in Alumi-Saarapuu Parish. Arvidsson is fluent in Medish, Estian, and Ditrovian.