Proudest MUM in Thailand

[rooster59]

Proudest MUM in Thailand

By KUPLUTHAI PUNGKANON 
THE NATION 

 

 

The new Miss Universe Thailand has some sweet things to say on Mother's Day

AS MOTHER’S DAY is celebrated across the Land of Smiles today, one mum is beaming with joy and pride more than most. Chanoksuang Poonlertlarb’s daughter is Maria Poonlertlarb Ehren, the newly crowned Miss Universe Thailand.

 

The 25-year-old beauty (whose first name is often transliterated as Mareeya, though she prefers the Western version) will represent the Kingdom in the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas in November, and she’s already being tipped as a top contender.

 

Just over 1.8 metres tall in her bare feet, Maria was born in Bangkok. The family spent several years in Hanoi, but she was back in her hometown by age seven.

 

She holds a bachelor’s degree in international business from Erasmus University in the Netherlands and a master’s in marketing from the Stockholm Business School in Sweden. Her father is a Swedish engineer and her mother is a university lecturer. Maria is fluent in Thai, Swedish, English and Mandarin. Her twin brothers, 12 years older, live in Texas in the United States.

 

Maria got into show business when she was just 13 and has modelled professionally and acted occasionally ever since. She released the song “Boong” in 2010 and later had a modest hit with “Come Along”.

 

 

She saw entering the Miss Universe Thailand competition as a step towards a planned career in women’s rights, and specifically working on issues such as education and teen pregnancy.

 

Maria and her mum had a chat with us this week – in English, with Maria showing a decidedly American accent – about life, fun and family.

 

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST FONDLY ABOUT MARIA’S CHILDHOOD?

 

Chanoksuang: She was a very pleasant and joyful child. I was always the one who sang to her until she fell asleep on my shoulder and who put her to bed. I’d sing “Bua Khao” [“White Lotus”] or “Let It Be Me”. I read to her a lot, so she’s always been inquisitive about things.

 

When her brothers came home from school, if she was still awake, they’d pick her up and dance around with her. She’d always insist on being picked up again and again, tricking them by saying, “Just one last time!”

 

WHAT MAKES MARIA HAPPY?

 

Chanoksuang: Our family is very warm and loving. Her brothers contributed a lot to her development. They liked sports. By the time Maria was one she could bounce a ball, counting to more than 100 without slipping, which we thought was very unusual for a little girl.

 

WHAT MAKES YOU PROUDEST OF HER?

 

Chanoksuang: The whole family was very proud when she beat more than 200 other students around the world for a chance to attend a Nasa space camp.

 

Maria: It was the most amazing experience of my life. When I was young I had many dreams, and being an astronaut was one of them. When I got to eighth grade there was a competition to go to America for two weeks, to Florida for this Nasa space camp.

 

 

WHAT MAKES YOUR MOTHER HAPPY?

 

Maria: We’re very similar in the sense that we’re sabai sabai. She works very hard, so just relaxing makes her happy. Whatever I do for her it always makes her happy too, and that just makes me want to do more, like playing the piano for her or making her an apple pie. She loves my apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream!

 

The most important thing is that she loves it when all of her children are home, when my brothers come for a visit. That’s when she’s happiest.

 

WHAT DO YOU GUYS LIKE TO DO TOGETHER?

 

Maria: Watching a movie, getting a massage, going out to eat, especially at a buffet.

 

Chanoksuang: We love buffets! Maria is funny. She likes to start with the salad and everything, then she goes for dessert, and then she goes back for more salad, then more dessert, and so on – it’s never in sequence. She just hops here and there.

 

Maria: My mother’s oven dishes are very good, though – potatoes, meat, vegetables and lasagna!

 

HOW HAS YOUR MOTHER HELPED YOU GET THROUGH THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF LIFE?

 

Maria: My mom has always been very supportive. The question she likes to ask which I think is really important is ‘Is that what you really want to do?’ Both my parents do that, actually. Even though they might have different ideas, they still respect my opinion, my thoughts.

 

Chanoksuang: Whatever she thinks or she likes, we value her opinion.

 

WAS BECOMING A BEAUTY QUEEN ANOTHER OF YOUR CHILDHOOD DREAMS?

 

Maria: I never thought of a beauty pageant as the end goal. I realised that people listen to you because of the title you hold, so the question is what should you do with that.

 

I want to open a foundation or an organisation that helps the community. I think I’m really in that position now, so it’s a dream come true – and it still feels unreal!

 

Being a beauty queen is a dream for a lot of little girls. For me, it’s more about what comes after that, what it really stands for.

 

 

HOW IMPORTANT WAS YOUR FAMILY’S HELP IN MAKING YOU WHO YOU ARE TODAY?

 

Maria: Growing up with two brothers was really amazing, because you develop faster by trying to copy them. It’s human nature to mimic, and whatever they ate, I’d eat the same. They left for university when I was very young and I was so sad – I missed my brothers.

 

Chanoksuang: I missed them too, but luckily I still had her, and that was a big help.

 

Maria: So my mom got me into a lot of activities – ballet classes, piano lessons, drawing, tennis, taekwondo, even ballroom dancing with her! I’m very lucky to have had all these opportunities.

 

Chanoksuang: One thing I admire most about her is that everything she does, she does well. Her tennis coach wanted her in the junior league because she was so good. Taekwondo too, because she had long legs and arms and no one could match her reach. She also likes science.

 

Maria: My family has always been very positive and reinforcing. If I didn’t do something well, my father would say, “Let’s practise until you’re able to do it well.”

 

Anyone who takes lessons can do anything – not just me. It’s really about surrounding yourself with a good support team that makes you want to do the fullest.

 

When I was onstage in the pageant, I saw a sign that said “Texas heart Maria”, and I knew instantly it must be from my brothers – so sweet.

 

IT’S MOTHER’S DAY – WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO YOUR MUM?

 

Maria: I think it’s important to know that we’ll always be together and support each other. My mom has supported me my whole life and I want to give that back.

 

Ever since I was a kid I’ve always said that if I get married, my husband can stay out in the garage and my parents will be with me in the house.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/lifestyle/30323546

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-12

[rijb]

She wants a husband for her garage?  

[Thian]

This girl got a supereducation overseas, she's too smart to be miss Thailand and get a real job.

[BigBadGeordie]

Vomit

[saakura]

Just now, BigBadGeordie said:

Vomit

Grapes are sour?

[BigBadGeordie]

32 minutes ago, saakura said:

Grapes are sour?

No not at all but I think, this is more "Thai" than the crap published in the OP.

 

Taken tonight at my home, with my family.

 

[Xobtsiwt]

Gushing sycophancy is not an attractive style of journalism, but perhaps the girl is perfectly nice - who can say?

[Damrongsak]

Just over 1.8 metres tall in her bare feet...  That would be how tall on her knees? 

 

She looks old for 25.  My wife was still getting carded for buying me beer in the US when she was 40.

[mogandave]

No not at all but I think, this is more "Thai" than the crap published in the OP.
 
Taken tonight at my home, with my family.
 

Which one are you?

[BigBadGeordie]

7 minutes ago, mogandave said:

 

Which one are you?

 

The one behind the camera ;-)

[saakura]

7 hours ago, BigBadGeordie said:

No not at all but I think, this is more "Thai" than the crap published in the OP.

 

Taken tonight at my home, with my family.

 

Very nice photographs, beautiful smiles and a nice happy family, what else can you ask for, wish you all the best! I also do not like the plastic white models, but would avoid derisive comments.

[mogandave]

A woman with an advanced business degree from a Swedish university that speaks several languages is a plastic white model?


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Somtamnication]

9 hours ago, BigBadGeordie said:

No not at all but I think, this is more "Thai" than the crap published in the OP.

 

Taken tonight at my home, with my family.

Had no idea that a real Thai family excludes interracial kids who have succeeded in education and now a beauty pageant. 

[Yinglove]

10 hours ago, BigBadGeordie said:

No not at all but I think, this is more "Thai" than the crap published in the OP.

 

Taken tonight at my home, with my family.

 

These people look nothing at all like what is seen on Thai TV.

These people look more like the ones from whom the catchphrase "the land of smiles" originated.

One can only think that the greater say in the administration of the country this sort of people are allowed - the better off and happier the whole place will be.

[Nowisee]

So basically she's not really thai?

How does this sit with thais?   Are they accepting this? 

Her father is Swedish, she went to school in Sweden and Netherlands, how is it that she has an American accent? NASA space camp?

[mogandave]

These people look nothing at all like what is seen on Thai TV.
These people look more like the ones from whom the catchphrase "the land of smiles" originated.
One can only think that the greater say in the administration of the country this sort of people are allowed - the better off and happier the whole place will be.

Do people anywhere look like the people on television?

[theguyfromanotherforum]

My wife is obsessed with her. I am thinking of divorcing her just for this fact. The other day she showed me a clip on Facebook of her playing the piano which I think these pictures are taken from. The piano playing was absolutely dreadful. I am ashamed that she is impressed by someone who just looks pretty and has no real skills whatsoever.

[rijb]

1 minute ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

My wife is obsessed with her. I am thinking of divorcing her just for this fact. The other day she showed me a clip on Facebook of her playing the piano which I think these pictures are taken from. The piano playing was absolutely dreadful. I am ashamed that she is impressed by someone who just looks pretty and has no real skills whatsoever.
 

A lot of guys fall into the category of being "impressed by someone who just looks pretty and has no real skills whatsoever"  

[Yinglove]

1 minute ago, mogandave said:

Do people anywhere look like the people on television?

 

Of the 5 or 6 countries that I regularly visit the disparity between what is seen on the screen compared to what is seen in the street is by far and away the greatest in Thailand.

Viewing Thai TV would lead one to believe that Thais are all half farang almost white people with western noses.

I've almost never seen a dark skinned Thai on TV unless they are on the news standing there pointing at an enormous monitor lizard.

[mogandave]

Of the 5 or 6 countries that I regularly visit the disparity between what is seen on the screen compared to what is seen in the street is by far and away the greatest in Thailand.
Viewing Thai TV would lead one to believe that Thais are all half farang almost white people with western noses.
I've almost never seen a dark skinned Thai on TV unless they are on the news standing there pointing at an enormous monitor lizard.

And I've never seen a fat, tatted-up Walmart worker reading the news in California.

[mogandave]

So basically she's not really thai?
How does this sit with thais?   Are they accepting this? 
Her father is Swedish, she went to school in Sweden and Netherlands, how is it that she has an American accent? NASA space camp?

In much the same way that President Obama is not a real American because his father was Kenyan.

Why a well educated, talented, beautiful woman is attacked here by a bunch of bigots is beyond me.

[Yinglove]

1 minute ago, mogandave said:

 

And I've never seen a fat, tatted-up Walmart worker reading the news in California.
 

 

Mate, if you think Thai TV is as diverse as that of western country's, then good for you.

 

 

[Orton Rd]

Miss Hi So half Thai

[mogandave]

Mate, if you think Thai TV is as diverse as that of western country's, then good for you.
 
 

At our office in Bangkok virtually all the women are fair-skinned, many look good enough to be on TV.

Even when I am up-country at the plant, the women working inside the plant are generally fair-skinned.

I think the Thais generally equate dark skin with farm work and poverty and fair skin with wealth, education and beauty.

Television is a business, the put the kind of people on that they feel will generate the most revenue.

[Orton Rd]

22 minutes ago, mogandave said:

 

In much the same way that President Obama is not a real American because his father was Kenyan.

Why a well educated, talented, beautiful woman is attacked here by a bunch of bigots is beyond me.
 

 

You need to look up the definition of bigot, really.

[mogandave]

You need to look up the definition of bigot, really.

Just looked it up, it said "Orton Rd."

[mogandave]

Of the 5 or 6 countries that I regularly visit...

What countries might those be?

[mogandave]

Miss Hi So half Thai

Indeed

[Yinglove]

3 minutes ago, mogandave said:

 

At our office in Bangkok virtually all the women are fair-skinned, many look good enough to be on TV.

Even when I am up-country at the plant, the women working inside the plant are generally fair-skinned.

I think the Thais generally equate dark skin with farm work and poverty and fair skin with wealth, education and beauty.

Television is a business, the put the kind of people on that they feel will generate the most revenue.

 

What a load of horse shit.

Walk down any soi and the thousands of people you pass do not look anything like those on TV.

Our estate has 36 houses all full of well off Thais - no matter how much the ladies smother themselves in whitening cream they look nothing like those on Thai TV.

 

[Yinglove]

4 minutes ago, mogandave said:

What countries might those be?

 

Australia, Singapore, Japan, China, Sth Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and US.

 

???