'Every day should be special'

'Every day should be special'

Whole-hearted dedication to everything, and everybody, she gets involved with seems to be one of the fonts of vitality that keeps Hathaithep Theerathada energised

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE
'Every day should be special'

There's definitely something infectious about Hathaithep Theerathada. And, no, this had nothing to do with the fact that our meeting took place in a swanky hospital room where Hathaithep, better known as Suzie, was getting over a dose of flu and a sore throat. Even when in poor health, Suzie radiates a timeless beauty, genuine candor, self-confidence and compassion (she seemed more concerned about my ongoing, seasonal cold than her own ailments).

Socialite Hathaithep ‘Suzie’ Theerathada revels in her flamboyance.

"I never miss an appointment. If I'm committed to doing something, I will always follow through," said Suzie, adding, between coughs, that she would be leaving the hospital later that day because she has a photo shoot lined up.

A well-known socialite, noted for her extreme wealth, much-publicised love life, extravagant lifestyle and straightforward manner, Suzie definitely isn't about air-kisses or painting an unfathomable image. She didn't beat about the bush during the course of our wide-ranging conversation, nor did she use flowery language while relating episodes in her intriguing life story.

Although she's now 70, Suzie still positively glows with health _ from the inside out. She said she watches what she eats, doesn't drink fruit juice from the carton or even any juice that's been left out for more than five minutes. She also exercises regularly. But the most important aspect of living a totally fulfilled life, in her opinion, is to keep one's spirits as high as possible.

"I eat what I want to eat because there's no point in not eating, and you can't eat when you die," she said. "The other day, I went to Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Communications for a charity bowling event and I was the only person from my class there. We were the first class, you know. I wasn't feeling well, but once I've committed myself to a charity event, I won't back out." Nor has she ever hidden the fact that she has undergone plastic surgery on several occasions, even proudly stating in public exactly what kind of cosmetic work she has had done. This degree of confidence might stem from the fact that her looks are not overly artificial; the aesthetic treatments seem to have merely accentuated her natural beauty and her clear, porcelain skin.

"I love looking beautiful and if there is a way to keep my looks intact, I'll do it. It's also about keeping myself healthy in every single way that I can," she reasoned.

Born into a well-heeled family, Suzie recalls her youth as being "wild" in contrast to the rather tame period in which she grew up. She remembers the excitement of getting all dressed up to go out dancing and said she would sometimes moonlight as a model in order to earn more pocket money. But she never let those extra-curricular activities interfere with her school work, at which she excelled. After graduating from Chulalongkorn University, Suzie relocated to the US to further her studies and she is still proud of the fact that she worked hard while she was there so that she wouldn't have to ask her parents for any extra cash.

She later got a job at the World Bank where she ended up working for 20 years. But her duties there weren't enough to keep that business-orientated mind of hers fully occupied. So, as a sideline, she started making Thai desserts for Thai restaurants and grocers in the US. She eventually opened her own restaurant, and later a bar which, she said, became a huge success due to interesting marketing strategies she employed including providing a surrogate driving service and handing out free drinks to football players and flight attendants.

"I always say that you have to go look for money since it's everywhere. But you always have to work hard if you want to make a fortune," she said.

In between juggling her businesses, Suzie found time to rear two successful sons. Don Theerathada, who enjoyed star status in Thailand for a while, is now an established stunt coordinator based in Hollywood.

"I gave my kids the best of everything. Some people might think it was too extravagant a lifestyle for them, but I, on the other hand, believe that by getting [children] accustomed to a certain lifestyle makes them work even harder to retain that high level of comfort. I'm very proud of what they've done with their lives."

Suzie generated her great wealth from acting as an agent that procured supplies for the government, a profession she has largely quit.

"Nowadays, I'm just an investor for other dealers _ some of whom were actually my competitors back in the old days _ because it's just got so tiring. Before, I used to stay up all night before getting on a flight from the US, after which I would come in to do a presentation. The following day I would be off again. I was a working machine. But ever since my time as a model, every time I make some money, I keep some of it back and put it in an envelope for a future donation," she revealed.

Another aspect of Suzie's life that has kept the public enthralled was her widely publicised romance with a man 25 years her junior. Two decades after it started, her liaison with Putharit Prombandan is still going strong, apparently.

"Every New Year I ask him if he wants to go off and have a 'real' family _ with kids and all. If he said 'yes', I would happily let him go because you want your loved ones to be happy. But he's still here. The secret to having a long-lasting romance? First of all, you need to trust each other and you need to be forgiving. No one can be right all the time. You also have to be considerate to each other, and every day should be a special day," Suzie said.

"Also, don't be a 'wife', be a 'fling' instead; that keeps the excitement and romance going. We always find fun activities to do together. Even little things like competing in Candy Crush or playing hide-and-seek at an airport!"

Currently, Suzie is looking into investing in a stem-cell business as well as continuing to be active on the charity front, especially for any cause that involves helping dogs. But, as always, everything she does, she does with gusto.

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