Maria Amelie

Maria Amelie is a Russian-born author and entrepreneur who gained national attention in Norway after the publication of her autobiography 'Ulovlig norsk' ('Illegally Norwegian') in 2010, which highlighted the struggles of undocumented immigrants. Her story, which began with her family's asylum-seeking journey from North Ossetia to Norway, resonated deeply with the Norwegian public and sparked significant changes in immigration policy, including the creation of 'Lex Amelie,' allowing certain rejected asylum seekers to return to Norway under specific conditions. After facing deportation, she eventually secured her citizenship and became a successful business leader, co-founding Startup Migrants, a venture aimed at empowering multicultural youth through entrepreneurship.