After making history for being the first female to be crowned on Thailand: The Star Season 4 -- one of the country's most popular reality singing contests -- Wichayanee "Gam" Piaklin's life was turned completely upside down.
Against all the odds, Gam still can't believe that she won such a prestigious award like this. After all, reality shows in Thailand normally attract female fans and their votes.
"I have been in these shoes before," Gam recalled of her past. "I was one of the crazy fans who spends money sending text messages to vote for my favourite contestants and they were all men. When I made it to this competition myself, I didn't expect any votes at all," she added.
With her talent and the outstanding quality of her voice, Gam has become Thailand's new sweetheart regardless of how she looks. Winning such a competition might be the highest point anyone can dream of, but for Gam it was just a small beginning of her career.
ALWAYS IMPROVING
In 2008, the 18-year-old Gam turned from being a normal teenage girl to having to be a responsible adult after she was crowned the winner of The Star. She knew that the path she chose would not be easy and was not as glamorous as many people think.
"Without the looks, you won't make it pass one year", "People will soon forget you since you are not pretty," "This industry has no room for a fat girl with dark skin" -- Gam kept hearing these sentences over and over again. Many times they were to her face and many times were behind her back.
"To be honest, I felt really bad the first time I heard such words, but I took all criticism as a compliment. When people think you are perfect is when you stop trying. That's why I love to hear all those words so that I can keep improving myself," Gam said.
After she won the reality singing contest, she released her own single, which turned out to be a big hit.
Gam confessed that she had no professional training apart from being in the school country music band back in Phuket where she grew up.
She went to Silpakorn University to study in the Faculty of Music, where she chose Jazz Studies as her major focusing on vocals. That's where Gam got her professional vocal training with proper theory.
After she graduated from the university, Gam developed many different techniques -- even the audience can spot the difference in many of her performances.
"Besides my fans, I also have to thank those who give me some negative criticism. I turned all of them to be my will power to push me to do even more things to better myself," Gam said.
Luckily Gam was not undermined by harsh words of criticism -- they simply made her stronger and even more humble. Gam slowly learned that this industry is not as beautiful as she thought it was before entering.
But the toughness of the industry made Gam find a way to develop herself. Gam describes herself as an empty glass that needs to be filled with new experiences all the time. She is hungry to learn more and that is reflected in her work throughout her career.
GIVING IT ALL
People may think Gam is a superstar who is so high up that no one can easily reach, but Gam confirms that she has never changed who she is or how she thinks, even with her eternal fame.
"You still can find me at shopping malls and restaurants. I never disguise myself or go places with personal bodyguards. I understand how important it is for the fans to get close to the idol they look up to," Gam said.
"Many superstars are hard to reach, but I am very approachable most of the time. I sometimes even walk over to the fans myself to ask them how they are and if they want to take photos with me," she added.
Even with her popularity, Gam has never got lost in fame. She always reminds herself that one day, she may not matter anymore. It's the same approach she adopted during the competition. None of the contestants were allowed to read the news or use the internet during the competition time since they had to stay together in the same house.
Gam didn't realise how popular she was among the fans. Every time she stepped up on the stage to sing, she always gave her all since she believed it could be her last performance. It turned out she did her best every week until the final round.
"I still think that way today. People make an effort to come and see me perform and it is my responsibility not to let them down. They come to see the best and that's what I have to deliver every time I'm on the stage," Gam said.
Even until today, Gam remains humble and acts as if she is not very famous. However, she does benefit from her fame by empowering other people to believe in themselves and try hard for what they love.
After she won the competition, she inspired many young women to step out of the shadow and into the spotlight. As a result, there are more varieties of contestants, especially women with different qualities in the years following the competition. Gam set the new example that you don't have to be perfect in order to reach your dreams.
"It is such an honour that many people look up to me. Therefore, I used this opportunity to encourage people to reach for the stars and pursue their dreams. No matter what it is, if they want it, I always set an example that they will get it if they try hard enough for what they love," Gam said.
FIRST SOLO SHOW
After being in the industry for 10 years, Gam is considered one of the top divas in Thailand. Compared with other Thai divas, she is the youngest, yet full of talent. Gam is not one of those singers who became really popular with one hit and then disappeared. No one could forget her -- especially not her voice.
When she was in primary school in Phuket, she was selected to do the morning chant at the flag ceremony every morning due to the quality of her voice. One day, a gym teacher who ran the student band invited her to join a country music band called Super Dance when she was only 8 years old.
Being a shy girl who lacked confidence, taking the lead role was a bit difficult for her.
Gam slowly gained confidence and was finally able to take the lead in many competitions, managing to win many trophies for her school.
She was with the band until she left to study in high school, where she continued to sing for her old school. One day, her new school found out and asked her to represent them in many singing competitions.
Gam was always the highlight of every concert she was invited to due to her personality, as well as powerful voice that gives listeners goosebumps whenever she starts to sing.
Even after countless performances, Gam never performed in a solo concert until she graduated.
One of the requirements for students to graduate is to have their own solo performance. That was when Gam learned how special it is to get to have her own concert where she can sing songs from the playlist that she chose.
"My fans still follow me around to support me. Thanks to them to make my concerts have become meaningful," Gam said.
Gam now realises what she is capable of and how it feels to take over the stage, and she is finally ready to have her own solo concert on May 19–20, titled Gam Concert My First Time.
"For those who want to know who I really am and what I really like, this concert will be the best opportunity to see the real me. I have a wide variety of music preferences from Thai folk songs to country music, as well as pop, jazz and many more," Gam explained.
The first solo concert that Gam will perform is not only to celebrate her talent and the 10th anniversary of her success, it also symbolises the power of dreams and inspiration.
"I have many people who inspired me and now I know that I inspire many people. I'm living proof that you don't need to rely on your looks if you have a dream and ambition to drive you. Stay positive and never think that you are already good, that's when you will always have more room to develop yourself. The most important thing is never give up," Gam said.
