Former Miss Universe Porntip ‘Bui’ Simon (nee Nakhirunkanok) is among many people who have lost their homes in the devastating wildfires in California.
In her Facebook post, the Thai=born beauty queen wrote: “We lost our beloved home in Malibu yesterday. So many precious memories in that special house where my babies were born and raised. My first home and sacred nest for 25 years has now been reduced to ashes - erasing all the belongings, photos and mementos of the last few decades in this shocking moment. I am, though, profoundly aware of how precious life is and that our friends and loved ones are what truly matter most.”
In another post, she wrote: “Please pray for the brave firefighters and all those affected by the horrific California fires. I have lived here (USA) most of my life and I have never experienced anything as devastating as this! Friends and families have lost everything, while countless lives and homes remain in harm’s way by the continuing eruptions of fires. How I choose to handle stress is to look for ways to be helpful. Two places to extended immediate support is to@redcrossla@lafdfoundation. Please stay safe.”
Los Angeles is home to the world’s largest expat Thai community and the Thai Consulate General there has set up an emergency operations centre to assist Thais affected by the wildfires. At least five people have been killed so far.
Pornthip was born on February 7, 1969, in Bangkok, Thailand. In the early 1970s, her family relocated to the United States, where she attended Washington Irving Middle School and Franklin High School in Los Angeles. She later earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Pepperdine University.
In 1983, at the age of 15, she participated in the Miss California Teen USA pageant, achieving first runner-up. Upon returning to Thailand, she won the Miss Thailand 1988 pageant, earning the opportunity to represent Thailand at the Miss Universe pageant.
At 19, she was crowned Miss Universe 1988, becoming the second Thai woman to win the title after Apasra Hongsakula in 1965.
She was the first to win both the Miss Universe title and the Best National Costume award in the same pageant.
In 2002, Bui married Herbert Simon, an American businessman and owner of the Indiana Pacers basketball team and Simon Property Group.
She is the president and founder of the Angels Wings Foundation and serves on the Board of Regents of Pepperdine University, the Board of the Children's Museum of Indianapolis as a Distinguished Advisor, and the Board of Governors for the Dream Foundation.
