Dichan

Published on February 27, 2008

Inside, she poses in even brighter outfits against a dazzling-blue sky and sea.

Another big fashion shoot features heartthrob Sukolwat "Wier" Kanaros who sports a spring/summer collection by Diesel.

Elsewhere, we find out that for three-time beauty queen Isabelle Favre, gracing magazine covers and catwalks is just a hobby - the Swiss native works full time as a policewoman. In the past eight years she's learned a lot about Thailand, but not all of it good. In her law-enforcement work, the word ya ba has cropped up over and over, always explained by the media as the "pill from Thailand". She's now in town to trace the ya ba smuggling route between Asia and Europe.

Then spend some time in the company of Japanese-Thai Kalaya "Tada" Kalayanamitr. Born in Thailand, Kalaya was only five months old when her family moved to Japan, where she was raised and educated. She's now back in her homeland and busy studying all things Thai. Rather than following fashion and, say, dying her hair blond, the multi-lingual cultural hybrid says she likes to stick to her own style. And having won the title of Miss Thailand in Japan, she now wants to go for Miss Thailand Universe.

Since the age of three, Wan-anong Piriyapanyaporn has had the dream of becoming a hairdresser - a profession not usually thought suitable for someone of her high social rank. The only daughter of the family, Wan-anong braved the prejudice of her elders and became the first Thai to complete Vidal Sassoon's course in the US. Read how she struggled through to become the owner of top salon Splendid by Linda.

compiled by worm boy

The Nation