Portal:Thailand/Selected article/25

Parinya Kiatbusaba or Parinya Charoenphol (born 1981), more popularly known as Nong Thoom, Nong Toom or Nong Tum, is probably the best-known kathoey (male-to-female transgendered person) in Thailand. She is a former Muay Thai (kickboxing) champion and has also worked as a model and actress.

Her story is related in the 2003 film Beautiful Boxer in which she was portrayed by real-life male kickboxer Asanee Suwan. The film won several national and international awards, yet opened to limited success in Thailand. It came to United States theatres in 2005. The film's director, Ekachai Uekorngtham, also wrote the solo performance Boxing Cabaret for Nong Tum which she performed in the summer of 2005 at the Singapore Arts Festival and later in Bangkok.