Tawan, the bashful beauty

    Jiratchaya “Tawan” Kedkong certainly didn’t have it easy as she competed against 13 other supermodels from around the region, all of them determined to be crowned Asia’s Next Top Model. Indeed, she found herself in the bottom two twice and was almost eliminated but somehow struggled through the hard times to become the least expected winner.
Tawan walks away from the fourth season of the show with a brand new Subaru and a contract with Storm Agency in London, one of the world’s most prestigious modelling agencies with whom she will begin her career in earnest.
    Born and raised in Lop Buri, 20-year-old Tawan is 177 centimetres tall and armed with a gentle disposition but a surprisingly strong will. She also has that spcial “something”, an indefinable quality that won over the supermodels Kelly Tandiono from Indonesia and Cindy Bishop from Thailand as well as globally renowned Taiwanese-born photographer Yu Tsai to become the second Thai model to snatch the crown, after Jessica Amornkuldilok, who was crowned at the end of cycle one.
We had a chat with the top model.

How did you start modelling?
    I started when I was about 18, which is only two years ago. I’ve always been tall, which I inherit from my dad’s side of the family, and I’ve always liked fashion, though being a professional model never crossed my mind until after I graduated from high school. My family had quite a serious financial problem at the time and I decided to skip college and work. That’s when I came to Bangkok and tried my luck at modelling.

Was it hard to find modelling jobs?
    Yes it was, at least at first because I was starting from zero and knew no one. I entered a few modelling contests and although I didn’t won any titles, I made connections on the modelling circuit. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I was modelling in Hong Kong for six months. I then went on to Singapore when I heard about Asia’s Next Top Model, which is based in there, and decided to enter the competition just for fun. Looking back, things worked out really well for me and I feel really fortunate. I’m also very lucky to have the full support of my parents in pursuing a career in modelling.
     I was shocked but of course thrilled when I was picked for the show where I would be competing with 13 other girls. I didn’t have a lot of experience as a model, my English was not very good and I have very little confidence. But then, what did I have to lose? I didn’t expect to win at all. I just wanted to get out there and be seen as I thought it would benefit my modelling career.

Was the drama in the show scripted?
    No. I was surprised to find that, too. You have to understand when you have a dozen girls who don’t know each other, come from different backgrounds and different cultures, nasty things are bound to happen. The show captured the little moments, and built up the drama for effect. It’s not really my thing, or my strategy, so I tried to stay clear of all the messiness and focus on doing better in the challenges.

Do you find it really stressful in that top model apartment?
    Oh yes, very! I missed speaking Thai. We were not allowed to use the phone, Internet, watch TV or read newspapers and the challenges were on every other day. There was always a lot to do, many challenges to tackle and too little time to prepare. I made some friends that I still keep in touch with. But just as I thought I had found solace in these new friends, they were eliminated, which made it even more stressful for me. I just wanted to run off to the forest and scream my head off. It was a really intense but rewarding experience.

The judges often criticised you for being too shy and reserved. Was that one of the major challenges for you to overcome?
    Yes. I’ve always been easy-going and goofy, unlike many of the girls who have more of a Western attitude, you know, fierce, strong and insanely confident. I’m not like that, and I don’t think I need to be like them. I did the best I could, though, to speak up and speak out about how I feel and what I want. That is probably the biggest thing I have taken away from the show.

So how did a shy girl win the fierce competition?
     I did my best and delivered what was required of me in each challenge. When I’m in a shoot, I’m always serious and try my best to give them what they want, whether it’s the customers or the judges. I may not be a fierce, super-confident supermodel but I’m versatile in my modelling style. I can be pretty, I can be chic, I can be cool – anything you want me to be. Also, I didn’t give up. I proved to the judges that I took note of their comments and seriously tried to do better. I’m shy but I’m not a quitter.

What are you planning next?
    I hope to secure some good modelling deals that really fulfil my dream, and go as far as I can in this industry. Maybe I will go back to school and earn a degree, but right now I would like to savour my title, make the best of it and focus on my career.