Chutima Durongdej

Chutima Chantelle Durongdej (Thai: ชุติมา ดุรงค์เดช), nicknamed Kai Mook (Thai: ไข่มุก) (born 6 December 1985 in Bangkok, Thailand) is Miss Thailand Universe 2009. She won the 2nd Runner-up of "Best National Costume" and "Miss Photogenic" in the 2009 Miss Universe pageant competition held in the Bahamas.

Biography

Durongdej primarily educated from King’s College, Taunton GCSE and Millfield School in the United Kingdom. After that she received Bachelor of Food Science and Nutrition from the Sutton Bonington campus of the Nottingham University in 2007. A year later, she received a master's degree in Business Management from City University, London.

Pageantry

During her studies in the United Kingdom, Chutima participated in Miss London and Miss Wimbledon pageants, where she received the 2nd runner-up and 1st runner-up respectively. She was also chosen into the top 20 of Britain's Next Top Model, in 2006.

On March 28, 2009, Durongdej competed in the 10th Miss Thailand Universe pageant held in Bangkok where she won and was crowned by reigning Miss Thailand Universe 2008 Gavintra Photijak.

Chutima competed in the Miss Universe 2009 pageant in Nassau, Bahamas on August 23, 2009. She was chosen to be Miss Photogenic via the worldwide Internet voting poll. She also won the Best National Costume 2nd Runner-up.

Her Interview in Miss Thailand Universe 2009

The 1st interview for top twelve;

Host: You have studied abroad for a long time and, according to your profile, you did many activities: singing, dancing, and so many other activities. But one of your most favorite things is doing meditation which is hardly practiced among teenagers nowadays. The question is how do you get on your activity and what benefits do you have got?

Contestant: I always do meditation. I keep considering in my mind to be aware of things coming out of my deeper self. This benefits our daily life in society because we can run up against all disturbances by deliberating myself. Suppose one says bad words to you (the host) you can stop fighting back or any arguments by letting your bad emotion die away immediately.

Host: How do you consider your present state of mind?

Contestant: I'm feeling proud of myself and feeling great of being the top twelve, so I would like to thank all judges who voted for me. Thank you!

Host: She shows the advantages of doing mediation as she can answer the questions very well!

The 2nd interview for top five:

Host: If you were a part of a big tree which consists of many parts, such as branches, leaves, roots, or a trunk, which part is chosen representing yourself, and why?

Contestant: If I were a part of a big tree, I would select to be a root because a tree can't live without roots. In addition, I prefer being a giver to a receiver. My inspiration of being a giver is my mom: she has given me everything. I can stand here because of her doing much for me. On this stage, Miss Thailand Universe, I wanna say I love you so much, mom, thank you.

Facts/Trivia

• Her nickname 'Kaimook' means Pearl in English.
• Kai-Mook is also the name of a baby elephant, born in the Zoo of Antwerp, on 17 May 2009.

External links

• Official site of Miss Thailand Universe