Age: 18
Class Year: 2018
Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand
Hobbies/interests: Running, writing
What she’s known for: Unique SGA campaign
What is the significance of the pink unicorn?
I really wanted to showcase the importance of individuality. I want to encourage people to feel comfortable, to be okay with their differences. I chose the unicorn too because my first choice animal was not available on Amazon. [laughs]
You talk about feeling different and standing out. Tell us about a time you felt like a needle in the haystack.
For starters, I grew up Thai in New Zealand. I am originally from Bangkok, actually. Being part of a minority group, it can be difficult. I moved there [New Zealand] when I was about twelve, so I experienced life in two cultures at once.
How did others react to your costume?
Some people really appreciated it. I got compliments from people I didn’t know. Even a professor took a picture with me. Some would ask, “Why are you wearing this?” I understand where they are coming from, though.
As an animal rights activist in New Zealand, you wore similar outfits to publicize the food industry’s dark side. Tell us about that.
Back in NZ, I was involved with an organization called SAFE (Save Animals From Exploitations). I would often times stand out on a busy street in my costume, collecting petition signatures, attracting attention to the mistreatment of animals, like my role suggests. For example, let’s take “factory farming”. Lots of animals are farmed indoors under substandard conditions. Cows, pigs, hens, you name it.
At one point, I even followed a vegan diet. That was difficult because my culture does not really follow those same guidelines.
Was it difficult to find substitutes for the food you enjoy?
No, not really. Most restaurants accommodate requests for a different protein sources. With butter, for example, I replaced it with plant-based spreads.
What is an interesting tidbit we have yet to learn about you?
I used to run a food blog. Unfortunately, since being in college I haven’t had the chance to update it as often as I’d like to, but it has a lot of information about veganism, nutrition and other food-related interests. You can check it out here
(http://obsessivenutritioncompulsive.wordpress.com) and tell me what you think!