Generous and giving, French Fries never tasted so good

Usually the winners spend the first few days travelling around Bangkok thanking all the news media and the contest’s corporate sponsors, but almost immediately after the bombing at the Erawan Shrine – two days after her crowning – French Fries (okay, we’re still smirking) hauled her runner-up princesses off to Police General Hospital to visit some of the people injured. When the young ladies finally made it to The Nation last Wednesday to express their appreciation for our coverage, French Fries began by saying, “Sorry we’re a bit late!”

“We’ve been busy with charitable events,” she added in what is surely an understatement.

In fact, her first reaction upon hearing that many of the victims of the blast downtown were Chinese tourists was to put her Mandarin-language skills to good use as a translator at the hospitals. But her parents and the pageant organiser forbade it that first night. The next day, though, she was there comforting the injured Chinese at the Police General Hospital.

“We went to encourage them and also to cheer up the doctors and nurses,” the 22-year-old told us. “I just thought it would be nice for the Chinese patients to have someone who spoke the same language.” French Fries is a senior at Thammasat University’s Pridi Banomyong Institute, where Chinese Studies are part of her curriculum. 

It was also a matter of paying back a debt. As an exchange student at Beijing University last year, she came down with an allergy and received treatment at a clinic. Having a Thai friend with her was a big help. “When you’re sick abroad, there’s less stress when someone is there to comfort you in your own language,” she said.

At Police General Hospital she even donated blood – for the first time ever. “At first I was really scared, but it was fine.”

Another first took place last Tuesday when French Fries made her catwalk debut, at an event at Suvarnabhumi Airport promoting Thai culture. With her tanned complexion and petite figure (29-24-30.5, 170cm tall), and dressed in a traditional silk gown, she managed to stand out among the supermodels and diplomats from embassies here.

“Thai silk is so gorgeous, so I’m so proud to help promote that aspect of our culture,” she said.

Weekdays since her crowning French Fries continues her studies, while weekends are devoted to her Miss Thailand World duties. This past Sunday she and the other contestants were planting trees as part of the Khao Yai Colour Street Project. “That was fun, too. I like to try new things!” she said.

Meanwhile all that cramming the Mandarin textbooks ought to be a huge help as she prepares for the big Miss World pageant, which is being held on the Chinese resort island of Hainan on December 19, and she’s also honing her English. “I’m watching BBC and CNN to improve my English and broaden my perspective.”

Once she gets her bachelor’s degree, French Fries wants to pursue a master’s in international relations. “I’m interested in becoming a diplomat, but on the other hand I’d also love to be a TV anchor and get into showbiz.”