Thread: The rags to riches story of the latest Miss Universe Thailand

The latest Miss Universe Thailand, 23-year-old Anna Suengam-iam, was born into a family of garbage collectors.


She was crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2022 in the final of the pageant late last night (Saturday). She will represent Thailand at Miss Universe 2022.


She unashamedly told the Thai media that both her parents worked as Bangkok Metropolitan Administration garbage collectors and that most of her toys as a child were salvaged from garbage and repaired by her parents.


She said that she did not have the chance to play like other kids, because her parents normally left home at 3am to work and returned home at 7pm to sleep.


The only time she had a chance to venture out of home was to take a ride on a garbage truck with her father.


Anna was adopted by her grandmother, because her parents did not have time to take care of her, and grew up on food from alms given to monks by members of the public.


During her childhood and adolescent years, she said she had absorbed Buddhist teachings from her grandmother and has adopted them throughout her life.



Before entering Miss Universe Thailand 2022, she competed in a number of beauty pageants and won some. Her dream, she said, was to compete in Miss Universe Thailand.


After being crowned the Miss Universe Thailand 2022, she told the media that the event had taught her that anyone can be successful, despite their beginnings, if they have a dream and pursue that dream with self-confidence.


She said she would like her story to be an inspiration to others who are poor or believe that they have no future. They should not to lose hope, but dare to dream and strive to fulfil that dream, as she has. More importantly, she stressed the need to study hard.


Anna graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with first class honours from the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science of Kasetsart University.

The rags to riches story of the latest Miss Universe Thailand | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

And yet, despite all those setbacks, she still managed to look OK with a ton of makeup on.

Which only goes to show that dedication and hard work pay off. Probably. Or something.

I'd smash her garbage bin !!

Originally Posted by misskit

After being crowned the Miss Universe Thailand 2022, she told the media that the event had taught her that anyone can be successful, despite their beginnings, if they have a dream and pursue that dream with self-confidence.

She said she would like her story to be an inspiration to others who are poor or believe that they have no future. They should not to lose hope, but dare to dream and strive to fulfil that dream, as she has. More importantly, she stressed the need to study hard.



The rags to riches story of the latest Miss Universe Thailand | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

She got lucky because of her looks in a country that where superficiality is revered like few others.

As we all know too well, the die is pretty much cast if you're born into the have nots rather than the haves in Thailand.

Originally Posted by hallelujah

She got lucky because of her

plastic surgery

Jeez its a tough crowd

I think well done to her, good to see someone reaching heights they thought would be unattainable.

She is a beautiful young woman without her makeup. I’m happy to see her escape that sad childhood situation and bloom.

Originally Posted by misskit

She is a beautiful young woman without her makeup. I’m happy to see her escape that sad childhood situation and bloom.

Unfortunately even educated young Thai women think looking cute is actually a worthwhile achievement.

Harry what are you on about? She is a good looking young woman who worked her way up. How long have you lived in Thailand?

I am not a fan of beauty contests at all, but good on her. Her it makes you set for life.

Originally Posted by aging one

Harry what are you on about? She is a good looking young woman who worked her way up.

She "worked her way up" to a beauty contest?

Yes, every young woman should aspire to that, and be suicidally disappointed if they are unattractive or don't have a suitable physique.

Christ, talk about missing the fucking point.

aging one

I am not a fan of beauty contests at all

Great for her.


Looks more attractive in the graduation gown than when pasted in makeup and stick thin.

Originally Posted by misskit

Anna graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with first class honours from the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science of Kasetsart University.

I wonder how she managed to finance a degree from Kasetsart with her background....that would be a better story than the rags to riches one.

Originally Posted by Topper

I wonder how she managed to finance a degree from Kasetsart with her background....that would be a better story than the rags to riches one.

That's kinda what I was wondering. Scholarship?

How'd she finished high school?

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Christ, talk about missing the fucking point.

Harry its a known fact you know little to nothing about Thailand and its culture. You have lived here, alone, for what 6 months?

Unfortunately you cant google up Thai culture.

Originally Posted by aging one

Harry its a known fact you know little to nothing about Thailand and its culture. You have lived here, alone, for what 6 months?

Unfortunately you cant google up Thai culture.

Just so you know before you make a bigger arse of yourself:

Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by the United States–based Miss Universe Organization.

The franchise of Miss Universe in Thailand began in 1984

It has as much to do with Thai culture as a pot of fucking yoghurt, you dimwit.

Originally Posted by aging one

Harry its a known fact you know little to nothing about Thailand and its culture. You have lived here, alone, for what 6 months?

Unfortunately you cant google up Thai culture.

What he said

Originally Posted by Iceman123

What he said

Yeah, I think you chew the same crayons.

Originally Posted by katie23

In Thailand, PH and other developing countries, many girls aspire to be beauty queens, models or actresses. For some (especially if they're poor), they see it as a way out of poverty. I don't blame/ shame the girls if they join beauty contests (or singing contests for those with singing talent).

In Venezuela (or is it Colombia?) there are academies training girls as young as 8 or 10 on how to be beauty queens - saw it in a docu. Now I think that's a bit extreme.

This particular Thai lady has a college degree as well as winning the beauty pageant, so kudos to her. She also got an education (maybe through scholarships) despite being poor, so good for her. I wish her the best.

Dayanara Torres, a former Ms Universe from Puerto Rico, came from humble origins too. She layer became the wife of singer Mark Anthony (they divorced later & he married J. Lo).

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, a Ms Universe winner from PH, also came from humble circumstances. Her German father left them and as a teen, she helped support her mom & sister by being a model & actress. She wasn't famous as a model or actress in her pre-Ms Universe days (so she probably wasn't earning much). Whatever success she's experiencing now, I think she deserves it.

Good points Katie. I think she's a natural beauty and would turn heads anywhere she went and winning a beauty pageant can only be a good thing for her future. I seem to recall Imelda Marcos was a bit of a looker and caught the eye of Ferdinand after winning a beauty contest. Thus sparking some kinda dynasty that's still in play. Maybe this thai Sheila will marry prayut or become his Mia noi? Who knows but I wish them all the best

I wonder how she managed to finance a degree from Kasetsart with her background

you know little to nothing about Thailand and its culture

She is a good looking young woman who worked her way up.

i suspect that working her way down has also contributed greatly to her success.

Originally Posted by misskit

The latest Miss Universe Thailand, 23-year-old Anna Suengam-iam, was born into a family of garbage collectors.

Someone forward this to Snubby.

There is always a way.