Porntip Nakhirunkanok
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| Porntip Nakhirunkanok Beauty pageant titleholder |
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| Birth name: | Porntip Nakhirunkanok |
| Birthdate: | February 7, 1968 |
| Birth location: | Chachoengsao, Thailand |
| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Eye color: | Brown |
| Hair color: | Black |
| Ethnicity: | Asian |
| Title(s): | Miss Thailand 1988 Miss Universe 1988 |
Porntip Bui Nakhirunkanok aka Porntip Bui Simon (born February 7, 1968 in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand; Thai: ภรณ์ทิพย์ นาคหิรัญกนก ไซม่อน) 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.
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[edit] Biography
When Porntip was 2 years old, she was brought to USA with her family. She is the first daughter of Udom and Sonklin Nakhirunkanok. Her father, was a member of a string band named "On The Rock". She had a younger sister who died in 2005.
She graduated with Master Degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University, United States.
In 2002, she married Herbert Simon, an American businessman and owner of the Indiana Pacers basketball team and Simon Property Group. He is 34 years older than Porntip.
They have one son named Sean Robert Simon. She has been taking care of the children of her sister, who died in 2005.
Bui is also well-known in Thailand for her charity work, especially her effort to help victims of the 2004 tsunami.
[edit] Pageantry
[edit] Participation
At age of 15, Nakhirunkanok attempted to win the Miss California Teen USA pageant where she placed as first runner-up. The pageant was won by Shawn Gardner who was a semi-finalist at the 1983 Miss Teen USA pageant.
In 1984, she joined the first Thai beauty pageant called "Tida Dome" held by the alumni of Thammasat University (Thailand). At that pageant she placed as third runner-up. She tried to compete again in the following year and placed as first runner-up.
She participated in the 1988 Miss Thailand pageant held in Bangkok where she won and had the right to represent Thailand at the Miss Universe pageant.
At age of 19, Porntip Nakhirunkanok was crowned as the Miss Universe 1988 by outgoing titleholder Cecilia Bolocco on May 24, 1988 in Taipei, Taiwan. She entered the semi-finals in fourth place, right behind USA, Dominican Republic, and Korea. She impressed the judges so much during the interview portion that she swept the competition, becoming the clear winner for the evening. She received the interview score of 9.730, swimsuit score of 9.684 and 9.752 for evening gown respectively.
The 1988 pageant is notable for the fact that four of the top 5 finalists all hailed from the Far East, with Porntip as the winner, Korea (Yunchung Chong) in second, Mexico (Amanda Olivares) in third, Japan (Mizuho Sakaguchi) in fourth, and Hong Kong (Pauline Yeung Bo Ling) in fifth. The rest of the top 10 were Patricia Jimenez from the Dominican Republic, Yajaira Vera-Roldán of Venezuela, Courtney Gibbs of USA, Diana Patricia Arévalo of Colombia, and Bente Brunland of Norway.
[edit] Hosting
Nakhirunkanok co-hosted a national costume competition in the Miss Universe 1992 pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand. The award was won by Miss Paraguay Pamela Zarza.
[edit] Judging
In June 2005, Nakhirunkanok returned to the Miss Universe pageant as one of the telecast judges.
she was chosen as one of the judges for preliminary competitions in the 2006 Miss Universe pageant held in Los Angeles, California.
[edit] Post Pageants
- Working for her own children charities.
- Lead anchor for "60 Minutes II in Thailand".
- Being a United Nations Population Fund Goodwill Ambassador.
- Campaign Spokesperson of Face to Face International.
[edit] Facts/Trivia
- Nakhirunkanok is the 1st among Miss Universe winners who also won the National Costume competition. Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad & Tobago won the award in 1998 and eventually won the crown then, Amelia Vega of Dominican Republic also won the Best National Costume and went on to win the 2003 Miss Universe crown.
- Before going to Taiwan, Porntip's Miss Thailand crown fell and the top of the crown broke. She was told that she would get a new crown!
- Her roommate during the pageant was Miss Korea (1st runner-up) who was one of the favourites to win the crown.
- She thought that Patricia Jimenez, Miss Dominican Republic would win the competition.
- Her nickname in Thai is "Booie or Bui" which means "Well sleeping"
- Despite being raised in Los Angeles, USA, Porntip is fluent in Thai.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Chuttima Naiyana |
Miss Thailand 1988 |
Succeeded by Yonglada Ronghanam |
| Preceded by Cecilia Bolocco |
Miss Universe 1988 |
Succeeded by Angela Visser |
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| Miss Universe Porntip Nakhirunkanok |
Miss USA Courtney Gibbs |
Miss Teen USA Mindy Duncan |
