Page 45 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL4

Often praised for her work to im prove the livelihood of hill tribes along the Thai-Myanmar border, theformer senator and activist Tuenjai Deets is just as often admired for her beauty and graceful manner.Her image might contrast with that of the typical female senator characterized by official dark suits, copious amounts of hairspray and a serious expression. Ms Tuenjai’s elegant look is also at odds with that of the stereotype of the rustic hemp-and-sandal wearing activist. She usually appears in Thai silk suits in cream, light-rose pink, classic pale blue or light yellow colours matched to shoes and scarf.“I am not a big spender on fashion,” Ms Tuenjai told Elite+. “I always support locally hand-woven cloth. I am a big fan of the Chitrlada Shop, the royal initiated project. I buy hand-woven cloth from the shop and ask a tailor to make suits for official occasions. For more casual days I prefer cotton dyed with natural pigments, outfits usually made by local villagers. I often wear fisher- man’s trousers even when I travel overseas, and foreigners ask where I get them from. I prefer a natural look. I hardly wear any make-up and I don’t intend to dye my grey hair.”The 62-year-old does not often talk about fashion and lifestyle, used to more serious topics – human rights violations, resettlement, statelessness and conflicts over natural resources between the poor and the influential.Many wonder why a graceful woman from the Kujara, an elite family with links to the royal family, would come to work as a volunteer in a remote village in Chiang Rai. Where does the affinity for the poor come from? And women of the elite often wonder how she can maintain her appearance without cosmetic surgery, botox or brand name fashion.Many wonder why a graceful woman from the Kujara, an elite family with links to the royal family, would come to work as a volunteerin a remote village in Chiang RaiMs Tuenjai aspired to diplomacy form a young age. Her preppy look, short hairstyle and polite demeanour would come in handy for a career diplomat. But her life and career choices changed when she studied political science at Chulalongkorn University. During her freshman year she joined a volunteer camp that brought her to help build homes for hill tribe villagers in Chiang Rai.“It was an eye-opening experi-ence. Being an ace student and graduating with honours had been my ultimate goal. But the experience gave me a sense that it is more interesting to meet people and learn about the lives of others who are different and have less privilege.”In her second year, Ms Tuenjai decided not to study international politics and instead chose sociology, which could educate her more about humanity. “Sociology teaches us toElite+ 43