WHOLESOME SUCCESS

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Imagine you are flicking through TV channels. What's the chance of not seeing the stereotype of bigger women being humiliated or made fun of? How many plus-size women are chosen to be on TV for their talents rather than their size? Very little, except for a few big stars who have proved that there is much more to them than just being plump.

Surivipa Kultangwattana's success is not due to her plump size. Having been in showbiz for about 20 years, she has broken the stereotype and is recognised for herself, not her size.

Her face has become a permanent fixture on TV as an unrivalled host with an upbeat and cheery style. She sparks hope in many plus-size women that they, too, can dress beautifully and feel confident with their bodies.

"My clothes on the TV shows are tailor-made and many people ask me where I find such pretty clothes in my size. Then I realised that most of my clothes were tailor-made or purchased overseas. There was a lack of choice for plus-size apparel in Thailand," said Surivipa.

Her idea to open a clothing line for bigger women came to her when she saw her husband, Robert Poonpipat, helping his friend with hip-hop apparel. "So I said to him, 'You know, you have lots of potential. Let's not waste it.' So we came up with this project."

She said she did not aim high when she first started out. She simply wanted to offer more choices to Thai women - a market neglected by the mass dressmakers. With help from her designer and stylist friends, the brand, Suri by Surivipa, was launched last year with its first booth at Siam Paragon.

"Our clothes only come in three sizes: S, M and L. The waist size ranges from 38 to 44 inches [97 to 112cm]. I do not want to label my clothes XL because it's hurtful to a person's feelings, mindful that they are wearing 'extra large' clothes," she said with a big smile and bright, sparkling eyes - her very own trademark.

The response, she said wide-eyed with enthusiasm, was amazing. She credited her success partly to luck and being in the right place at the right time. "My friends who were slim as young women are now a little bigger because they are married with children. They are also well fed by their loving husbands, so their waistlines have expanded a little," she explained.

The Suri by Surivipa brand of clothes do not rely on any season or themed collection. She wants to make clothes that can be worn throughout the year and can be matched with other clothing items the customers already have in their wardrobe. "Even 10 years from now, our clothes could still be worn without being outdated because they are simple and casual. We might not have a theme for each collection like other brands, but it doesn't matter."

The meaning of being beautiful, in Surivipa's dictionary, is self-confidence. "Some people ask me why I have the courage to wear a tank top. My answer is because I cannot be thin, but it doesn't mean I cannot be fashionable. If I feel confident and pretty, I can wear just about anything I want to wear!"

The wholesome beauty confessed that in the past, she had been sucked into the vicious dieting circle only because she wanted to fit in with the thin trend. "Of course, just like any girl, there was a time when I thought I had to be thin to be pretty. I tortured myself with diet pills and excessive exercise. In the end, I asked myself if I was doing all these things for my own happiness or for other people's satisfaction. Why did I want to be thin? So people would approve of the way I looked? Finally, I decided that other people's opinions were not worth tearing myself up for. And it's fine to be me, just the way I am."

Since she was a little girl, Surivipa had always been the wholesome type. At one point, her weight plummeted to 56kg, and she did not like what she saw in the mirror. "My face was weird. Deep inside, I felt horrible. I'm so lucky that I am still alive after having treated my body so badly!"

One of the most important reasons why she swore off diet pills was her husband's growing concern. He saw how many pills she was taking and he was worried about her health. Words alone might not have been enough to talk her out of it, so he bought a book full of information about different medicines to show her how those pills she was taking were potentially killing her.

"One by one he pointed out the description and the side effects of the pills I was taking, explaining what they could do to my body. I was petrified! Little by little, I cut back and finally managed without them."

She is very happy with her lifestyle right now - being able to have some cake to reward herself after a tiring day if she feels like it. The motto she bears in mind is not to spoil herself too much, and to keep everything in moderation. She balances out her intake of desserts with regular exercise. Surivipa said she has been using a skywalker at home four times a week for 45 minutes each time ever since she decided to invest in the exercise machine. The need to stay healthy is one reason, but another is that the machine is quite expensive, and so she may as well get the most out of it.

Gone are the days when she tried to please others by changing her looks to match their expectations. Now she is the happiest Surivipa she could ever wish to be - plump, pretty and perfectly content with her appearance.

"I can either be 50kg and unhappy, or 80kg and happy. You know which choice I prefer. My doctor is happy with my health check-up results ... okay, maybe not very happy with my weight, but the rest is in check, so I think I'm doing just fine," she answered with a satisfied smile.

Although she does not disapprove of those who strive to lose weight, as she considers it a personal choice, Surivipa tries to offer opportunities to those who might find it hard to secure a place in the trend-dominant society.

"All of my staff are larger ladies. Recently, I interviewed a chubby girl and as soon as I offered her the job, she burst into tears of joy because it had been so hard for her to find a job without being discriminated against because of her size."

Relate Search: Surivipa Kultangwattana, Siam Paragon, Suri by Surivipa