“When I was a girl, I was bullied from head to toe; for my square face, my flat nose and my dark skin. People back in my hometown consider my face to be ugly, but I never fought back. I just smiled, kept calm, and told myself that, one day, I will prove to you all that this kind of face will make me powerful, but I just didn’t know when.”
A “coconut girl” with big dreams
Piliwan Pimpoolad, also known as “Pili Opal”, is a Thai model who has challenged the Thai beauty standards and climbed her way to success on the international stage. Among her most notable works is being one of the models for David Beckham’s “Respect” fragrances campaign, which was launched in numerous countries.
Born in the north-eastern province of Udon Thani, Pili revealed that she wasn’t born into wealth, and therefore, her parents could not afford the best education for her. The only way to make ends meet was to help her parents sell coconuts on the streets. Nevertheless, she strongly believed that education was the only thing that could change her life.
“So I kept going, trying to apply for scholarships and attending every education contest, in order to win awards and prizes. That was a fun experience at that time.”
Initially, Pili’s options for further education were limited. Apart from chasing after scholarships and educational prizes, the only choices she could see were to either go to university in her hometown or nearby provinces, such as Khon Kaen or Maha Sarakham. It was not until she applied for a scholarship to study at the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University that her life changed completely.
That, however, was not the end of the story. While she was studying in Bangkok, Pili discovered a modelling contest “by accident”, something that would never be possible in her hometown.
“I went to a shopping mall and saw a modelling contest, and I was like ‘Wow, that’s kind of interesting!’, so I wanted to try. When I took part in that contest, many people encouraged me and told me that modelling really suits me.”
Since then, she has received many casting opportunities, and eventually found her success on the catwalks, as well as gracing the cover of many fashion magazines.
Image Courtesy: Pili Opal
What’s wrong with my face?
Thailand has always had particular beauty standards, such as having a fair skin, doe eyes, being tall and slim. Therefore, those who do not fit such beauty standards are subject to bullying. Pili was, unfortunately, among those women.
When she was young, Pili was often teased for having a “square face”, dark skin and a skinny figure. Many such features are not considered beautiful in the eyes of many Thais. Pili even remembers that her parents were warned that she will never be able to find a husband because of her looks.
“People would say that they are worried for my parents when I grow up and that nobody will want to marry me,” she laughed, as she recalled a hurtful, yet ridiculous comment. She does admit, however, that such comments about her facial features made her question herself from time to time.
“It’s not that I feel unconfident about myself,” she explains. “I am always proud of myself and my face, but it seems like people around me keep repeating and repeating it. That made me question myself, what is wrong with me, being born with this kind of face?”
Regardless, Pili was never discouraged and is still proud of her facial features, which she describes as “exotic” and “unique”. Her loving family also raised her to be a confident person.
“Because, if you do not believe in yourself, nobody will believe in you,” she says. “Even if nobody believes in me, the best friend, who will always be with me, is ME. So, whenever I got bullied, I would tell myself, ‘Pili it’s okay’, ‘nothing is impossible for Pili’, ‘you’re going to be fine’, and ‘you’re going to be okay’.”
Along the way, Pili also noticed that bullying has, sadly, become a norm in Thai schools, which has affected the mental health of many Thai teenagers, to a point where some have taken their own lives. This has inspired her to advocate for mutual respect and putting an end to school bullying.
“When I saw the news on TV, where young kids jumped off the building because they got bullied or body shamed, for being fat or being skinny, I didn’t want to see that happen anymore. That’s why I keep standing with a strong mission about bullying and about beauty standards.”
Image Courtesy: Pili Opal
Rise to recognition
One huge turning point for Pili was when she posted her story on her Facebook page in 2016, describing her journey from a “coconut girl” to an international model, which suddenly shot her to fame.
The post includes a lengthy hashtag, translated as “Never look down on anyone who is beneath you, because one day, they might be better than you”, which exploded, with thousands of likes and shares. Since then, Pili has been approached to share her inspirational story by several TV programs and magazines in Thailand.
Then came another turning point, when she was scouted to become one of the models for a global campaign with world-famous football star, David Beckham. This, she says, was an unexpected opportunity for a Thai model like her.
“A casting director for a production company called me and said ‘Pili, do you want to come to casting?’ Back then I didn’t know what the campaign was all about,” she says as she recalls the moment when she was approached.
After agreeing to do the casting without hesitation, she was later interviewed online by a casting director and clients from Paris and London, when she found out that she would be part of the global campaign.
“They told me that my story is interesting and that it fits with their campaign,” she said.
Being one of the models alongside a world-famous celebrity was already a huge step in her modelling career. What is much more heart-warming for Pili, however, was when Thais living abroad sent photos of the global campaign to her, to show their pride in the Thai model.
“Thai people, from Australia and London, sent me photos of my video advertisement at the airport, and on the billboard, and said ‘Oh that’s you, you’re a Thai model, we’re so proud of you’. I felt the warmth in my heart, because Thai people everywhere always support me.”
Despite the huge steps in her career, the Udon Thani-born model told us humbly that she cannot say that she’s successful yet, because, if she thinks that way, she will not improve herself or try new things. Instead, Pili describes each golden opportunity she receives as another chapter in life and that she is lucky to have received them. What is much more meaningful to her, though, is how she can inspire others to become the best versions of themselves.
“Something that I have questioned in my mind is that, what do I do for society that is also meaningful inside my heart or my soul? That makes me feel like, when I get this campaign, I have inspired or encouraged people who are the same as me.”
Image Courtesy: Respect by David Beckham
Models are like flowers
After gaining much experience as a model, both in Thailand and abroad, Pili became the founder of “Pili International Academy”, where she trains new-generation models to find success on international runways. Subsequently, she founded “Respect Model”, a modelling agency under her academy, which promotes models who do not fit into the typical beauty standards, with an ultimate hope to inspire others and put an end to bullying and discrimination in Thai society.
This mission is important to Pili, not only because of her past, but she strongly believes that everyone has their own beauty and charisma. This is the reason why she loves modelling, because the industry is open to different kinds of beauty, even if they do not fit idealised beauty standards.
“The modelling industry is open to all diversities, and it’s not restricted to only one kind of beauty standard,” she believes. “A model is like an artist, or like a flower. If there’s only one colour, I think the world would look boring, but if there are many colours of flowers, it makes the world look colourful. So the modelling industry makes me feel that way.”
In a way, being a modelling coach fulfils her, apart from being a model herself, as she believes in providing opportunities for those who are passionate about becoming international models, but do not know where to start.
Pili also noticed that there weren’t many “mentors” who could advise them on how to win casting calls for luxury brands or global catwalks. Therefore, Pili and her team also take her modelling students on educational trips abroad, to learn and gain experience, from how to go to casting calls to understanding the atmosphere of fashion week events.
“Being a model is my dream, but there are a lot of young people in Thailand who still don’t know where to start if they want to become an international model. I found that there are not many in Thailand who could advise them, that’s why I keep both jobs as a model and as a modelling teacher.”
Image Courtesy: Pili Opal
Nothing is impossible for a woman, if you really want to do it
Ultimately, Pili said she is proud to see her students, who used to be insecure about themselves for not being pretty enough, grow into professional models. In other words, paving the way for younger models to find their success is what really fulfils her, which probably came from her childhood dream of becoming a teacher.
“When I was 10 years old, my teacher asked me ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’. At that time I said I wanted to become a teacher. As time flies, I still remember that version of me when I told my teacher that I wanted to become a teacher. Being a teacher means you’re giving opportunities to people and you want to see someone having a better life.”
Pili’s one final piece of advice for women, especially those who may be insecure about themselves, is to be the best version of yourself. This is apparently her key to success, both as a model and a modelling trainer.
“Respect yourself first, and always believe in yourself. I always tell myself that nothing is impossible for Pili, so nothing is impossible for you.”
By Nad Bunnag, Thai PBS World
