Areeya Chumsai
Encyclopedia
Areeya Chumsai
Areeya Chumsai ' onMouseout='HidePop("71789")' href="/topics/Model_(person)">model
, teacher and filmmaker.
, the United States, the daughter of Thai immigrants. She spent her childhood and adolescent years in the state of Michigan and received a degree in journalism from Michigan State University
in 1993.
Her original surname was changed in USA to the prestigious Chumsai surname. More recently, the true Chumsai family demanded she change it as Thai surnames are unique by family, and the Chumsai extended family felt that Areeya was passing herself off as being part of a high society family when she had no actual connection. She has since changed her name to Areeya Sirisopha.
and won the crown in 1994. She went on to compete in the Miss Universe
pageant held in the Philippines
, placing 13th overall; she did not return to Thailand empty-handed, however, being the recipient of the "Best Kodak Smile." The Thai people were quite taken by Miss Chumsai, the 2nd visible Western-influenced and educated winner of the Miss Thailand pageant, following from the success of Miss Universe Winner Porntip Nakhirunkanok
who was also full Thai but educated in USA. Pop's popularity soared and she became a media sensation working as a model, actress, and emcee.
Unlike many other models, Pop also used her education to break into writing, journalism and teaching.
and writing to Thai students at Bangkok University
and later Chulalongkorn University
. In 1995, she became a military officer at the Chula Chom Kiao Military Academy ranked as a 2nd Lieutenant while teaching English to Thai soldiers. Her experiences in the military were later described in her book "Bootcamp." She also kept herself busy writing a column for the Thai fashion magazine Praew and continued to model. In 1999, she worked as a spokesperson/model for Hitachi, Ltd.
, appearing in both print and television advertisements. Her visibility and recognition within the country helped Hitachi sales double to ฿
3 billion by 2002. In 2000, she became the first Thai woman to receive the 13th Tokyo Creation Award, awarded for her social service.
(Dek toh), which documented the schooling and everyday struggles of the hill tribe children in northern Thailand. Areeya and Nisa lived among the Hill tribe people for months as teachers and students lived together growing crops, cooking meals, and continuing the education process. The film opened to positive reviews and has been shown in several film festivals throughout the world, receiving several accolades including most recently the EIDF2006 "Spirit Award" in Korea. Its impact can be seen on both a regional and national level. All proceeds from the film have gone to the Hilltribe children; in addition, Areeya and Nisa have continued to raise awareness across the country and through their charity work have contributed thousands of dollars. Furthermore, the Thai Ministry of Education contributed by increasing its funding for the region. Areeya has discontinued to model for L'Oréal
products but signed a new endorsement contract with "Trident Chewing Gum", she currently resides in Thailand.
Areeya Chumsai ' onMouseout='HidePop("71789")' href="/topics/Model_(person)">model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, teacher and filmmaker.
Early life and education
Areeya Chumsai was born in Ann Arbor, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, the United States, the daughter of Thai immigrants. She spent her childhood and adolescent years in the state of Michigan and received a degree in journalism from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1993.
Her original surname was changed in USA to the prestigious Chumsai surname. More recently, the true Chumsai family demanded she change it as Thai surnames are unique by family, and the Chumsai extended family felt that Areeya was passing herself off as being part of a high society family when she had no actual connection. She has since changed her name to Areeya Sirisopha.
Miss Thailand
Upon completion of her undergraduate studies, she traveled to Thailand to visit relatives and found a side job as a model for various fashion magazines. Within a year, she qualified for the Miss Thailand pageantBeauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
and won the crown in 1994. She went on to compete in the Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
pageant held in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, placing 13th overall; she did not return to Thailand empty-handed, however, being the recipient of the "Best Kodak Smile." The Thai people were quite taken by Miss Chumsai, the 2nd visible Western-influenced and educated winner of the Miss Thailand pageant, following from the success of Miss Universe Winner Porntip Nakhirunkanok
Porntip Nakhirunkanok
Porntip Bui Nakhirunkanok aka Porntip Bui Simon is a Thai beauty queen who has held the title Miss Universe 1988. She became the second woman from Thailand to win the Miss Universe crown, the first being Apasra Hongsakula in 1965.-Biography:Nakhirunkanok was born in Chacheonsao, Thailand...
who was also full Thai but educated in USA. Pop's popularity soared and she became a media sensation working as a model, actress, and emcee.
Unlike many other models, Pop also used her education to break into writing, journalism and teaching.
Teaching career
Upon completion of her reign as Miss Thailand, Areeya went on to teach EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and writing to Thai students at Bangkok University
Bangkok University
Bangkok University is the oldest and largest private university in Thailand, established 1962. Located in the central business district of Bangkok, the university expanded its operation to Rangsit campus in Pathumthani province to accommodate its rapid growth....
and later Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand and is the country's highest ranked university. It now has nineteen faculties and institutes. Regarded as the best and most selective university in Thailand, it consistently attracts top students from around the country...
. In 1995, she became a military officer at the Chula Chom Kiao Military Academy ranked as a 2nd Lieutenant while teaching English to Thai soldiers. Her experiences in the military were later described in her book "Bootcamp." She also kept herself busy writing a column for the Thai fashion magazine Praew and continued to model. In 1999, she worked as a spokesperson/model for Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd.
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The company is the parent of the Hitachi Group as part of the larger DKB Group companies...
, appearing in both print and television advertisements. Her visibility and recognition within the country helped Hitachi sales double to ฿
Thai baht
The baht is the currency of Thailand. It is subdivided into 100 satang . The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand.-History:The baht, like the pound, originated from a traditional unit of mass...
3 billion by 2002. In 2000, she became the first Thai woman to receive the 13th Tokyo Creation Award, awarded for her social service.
Filmmaker and current activities
In 2005, she co-directed alongside Nisa Kongsri the film InnocenceInnocence (2005 film)
Innocence , is a 2005 Thai independent documentary film directed by Areeya Chumsai and Nisa Kongsri about a boarding school for hill tribe children in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand....
(Dek toh), which documented the schooling and everyday struggles of the hill tribe children in northern Thailand. Areeya and Nisa lived among the Hill tribe people for months as teachers and students lived together growing crops, cooking meals, and continuing the education process. The film opened to positive reviews and has been shown in several film festivals throughout the world, receiving several accolades including most recently the EIDF2006 "Spirit Award" in Korea. Its impact can be seen on both a regional and national level. All proceeds from the film have gone to the Hilltribe children; in addition, Areeya and Nisa have continued to raise awareness across the country and through their charity work have contributed thousands of dollars. Furthermore, the Thai Ministry of Education contributed by increasing its funding for the region. Areeya has discontinued to model for L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
products but signed a new endorsement contract with "Trident Chewing Gum", she currently resides in Thailand.
External links
- Brown, Samantha: Beauty and brains: Areeya 'Pop' Chumsai (interview), 2005. Retrieved November 27, 2006.