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Naomi Campbell to mentor Thais to be next top models, Thaksin says
Supermodel expected to visit Thailand next month to advise Thaksin on how Thais can follow in her footsteps and compete with on the world stage
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SCMP’s Asia desk
Published: 7:40pm, 21 Jan 2025Updated: 8:19pm, 21 Jan 2025
Supermodel Naomi Campbell will visit Thailand next month to offer advice on how to train Thai talent to become top models in the fashion industry and on the catwalk, according to Thaksin Shinawatra, the country’s former prime minister.
The British fashion model would be in the country from February 8 to 10, Thaksin added, to give him tips on how Thai people could follow in her footsteps and compete on the world stage.
“We will screen Thais who are born beautiful by nature, without beauty surgery,” Thaksin said during an event at Nakhon Phanom University on Saturday. “Anyone inspired to become a world-class model can come out of their small hut to join the scheme.”
Thais of all genders with potential would be scouted from villages to national level and trained to become world-class models, he added.
The 75-year-old said the initiative is part of his campaign to promote soft power, boost Thailand’s economy and create earning opportunities for Thailand’s people.
Campbell has not yet made any announcements regarding travelling to Thailand to take part in Thaksin’s programme.
Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra at an event in Bangkok in August 2024. Photo: Reuters
Earlier this month, Thaksin came under fire for delivering a racially tinged speech in which he allegedly said Thai women struggled to become supermodels despite looking better than Africans, the Bangkok Post reported.
“African people, who have black skin and flat noses that make it difficult to breathe, are hired for millions of baht to be models,” he reportedly said during a campaign speech on January 5.
Thaksin’s daughter, current Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, came to her father’s defence, insisting he had not intended to make any discriminatory remarks.
The model creation scheme is led by the National Soft Power Development Committee and helmed by chairman Surapong Suebwonglee. According to Thaksin, it needs 20 million baht (US$586,360) to succeed.
The former prime minister said the idea behind the drive was to empower rural communities and see villagers upskilled so they would have better earning opportunities.
Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years of self-imposed exile following a coup against his government in 2006. He remains one of the most powerful civilian politicians in Thailand.
