Year of the Goat arrives hungry for gossip
Soopsip's been busy cuddling a baby goat the past few days as the new year began, so we missed out on some of the gossip going around.
As if a forecast for the months ahead, this busy array of developments is as much fun as it is bewildering.
Sorry, gals, he’s taken
Nadech Kugimiya has been dethroned as hottest celebrity in the land by a Swiss-Thai footballer who plays midfield for the national team. Charyl Chappuis is currently the name on every woman’s lips, handsome enough to be dubbed phua mahachon – the public’s husband.
The craze was initiated, of course, by Thailand’s triumph in winning the AFF Suzuki Cup. Chappuis is a prolific goal-scorer and a talented midfielder, as well as being an authentic hunk of a guy.
Pictures of Charyl were being shared around on the social media like a chain-letter scam, but the photo that went more viral than any was one he posted on arriving back in Switzerland after the championship match, where he’s smooching with his Portuguese girlfriend of five years, Melanie Manuel.
It was the snapshot that broke a thousand Thai hearts. It didn’t help matters, either, when Chappuis said Melanie has quit her job in Switzerland and plans to move to Thailand to be with him.
However, they’re still not married, and until the day she’s got his ring on her finger, count on Charyl Chappuis remaining Thailand’s most eligible bachelor.
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Stunning (both definitions)
Transgender celebrity Treechad “Poyd” Petcharat has been named the world’s 73rd-most beautiful face in an annual list compiled by US film magazine TC Candler. And she’s the only Thai (of any gender) on the list of 100 names.
When this bit of news went around, it generated plenty of deserved cheers and congratulations. It also, rather understandably, left a lot of Thai women somewhat depressed.
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So, what’s 50 years?
National Artist Chalong Pakdeevijit, acclaimed director of action-packed movies, tied the knot during the final weekend of 2014, and the headline writers didn’t miss the chance to point out that his marriage gives old guys hope.
Chalong, 83, is now married to businesswoman Pimsupak Insee, who’s 38. They’d been seeing each other for five months before deciding to get hitched.
He does look great for his age, but the gap between them meant that people were watching events unfold carefully, especially after Chalong’s only son, Gun, accused his new stepmother on Instagram of being “pretentious” and warning her not to “ruin” his dad’s reputation.
In a way you can’t blame Gun for venting a little rancour – the wedding comes less than eight months after the funeral of his mum.
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Nice Christmas present!
Let the New Year bells keep ringing a little longer because, after a long wait, actress Araya “Chompoo” A Hargate’s perennial boyfriend, businessman Wisarut “Nott” Rangsrisingpipat, has finally proposed to her.
Chompoo has spent many years answering the same question from fans and reporters. She’ll have to answer in greater detail as she begins making arrangements for the nuptials, but for now we’re happy she’s eyeing a date later this year.
Nott popped the big question on Christmas Eve and – once she’d said yes, of course – they lit up the social media with lots of photos, including shots of Chompoo holding a bridal bouquet with tears in her eyes. Lovely.
