The bride and groom reportedly wore costumes worth US$580,000, per Yahoo! News, with each delicate piece taking months to complete.
Petcharat looked like a glittering goddess in her traditional hand-embroidered Peranakan gown and handmade pure gold flower crown, while Hongyok’s western-style tuxedo was stylishly accessorised with two gold brooches at the left lapel.
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But what else do we know about this Thai fashionista and her life, and why does her country love her so much?
Poyd Treechada Petcharat’s early life
Poyd Treechada Petcharat, 36, was born in Phang-nga, Thailand, in 1986, and raised by her mother and stepfather after her parents separated, per NewsDirectory3. In 2004, when she was 17, Petcharat underwent gender-affirming surgery.
According to her Facebook page, she studied in the faculty of law at Assumption University of Thailand. Her profile also states that she currently studies molecular genetics and genetic engineering at Mahidol University.
She’s a beauty pageant queen …
Bringing a natural confidence to the stage, Petcharat was only 19 when she won the title of Miss Tiffany’s Universe and Miss International Queen (MIQ). She was the latter competition’s first ever winner, according to Bangkok Post.
For MIQ’s 15th anniversary in 2020, Petcharat said that the pageant “opened up [her] world”, per the same source. It didn’t take long for the young starlet to earn the moniker of Thailand’s “most beautiful transgender woman” among the public.
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… and a sought-after model
These days, Petcharat spends a lot of her time modelling for a mix of local and international brands.
A quick peek at her Instagram page shows Petcharat’s growing influence in the fashion industry.
Not only does she make VIP appearances at events from BMW x Bulgari to Fendi, but she also models for brands like Off-White, Cartier and Louis Vuitton.
Petcharat has starred in beauty campaigns for Shiseido and was spotted at a Heineken event just last week, too.
Her Hong Kong cinema ties
Besides modelling, Petcharat has featured in a string of films over the years – including some Hong Kong blockbusters.
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During filming, she even got caught up in a romance rumour with Koo after the two were seen flirting at a dinner, per Yahoo! Petcharat promptly denied this, saying, “Louis treats me like a younger sister and I don’t think he has ever tried to pursue me. Don’t involve him in this. I don’t want to ruin his reputation.”
Just a year later, Petcharat joined bigwigs like Andy Lau, Carina Lau, Chow Yun-fat and Eric Tsang to act as a mafia boss in the action-comedy From Vegas to Macau II.She’s also starred in Thai films like Cave Rescue and With Love.
She launched her own skincare label
With her flawless glow, it’s not surprising to hear that the enterprising model also dabbles in skincare. According to her social media bios, she is currently the managing director of Biomtpharma, a “laboratory and supplement manufacturer with GMP standard” in Bangkok. The platform sells everything from eye care and sleep improvement products to vitamins and diet supplements, per its website.
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Her love life
According to Thairath, Petcharat met her future hubby in school over 20 years ago. Phakwa Hongyok, also known as Oak, hails from a wealthy family with a background in the hospitality industry, states Today Online.
The lovebirds got engaged in February before getting married in a lavish ceremony the following month.
She’s breaking barriers for the LGBTQ+ community
With 2.7 million followers on Instagram, Petcharat has cultivated a fan base that looks up to her. According to Nation Thailand, she is a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and is open about her gender-affirming surgery.
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In 2020, she said she believes that society has progressed in its perceptions of transgender people, per Bangkok Post. “I think society has been talking less about beauty and more about the diversity of transgender people’s careers. We have transgender people working as doctors, teachers and politicians,” she noted.
One report claims that Petcharat took part in parliament discussions of the Thailand bill in 2013, in the hopes of legalising same sex marriage. She also featured in a Pantene ad with fellow transgender celebrities to promote and spread awareness of the transgender community.
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