Bui Simon

Porntip "Bui" Simon (née Nakhirunkanok; Thai: ภรณ์ทิพย์ นาคหิรัญกนก, RTGS: Phonthip Nakhirankanok, pronounced [pʰɔ̄ːn.tʰíp nâːk.hì.rān.kā.nòk]; born February 7, 1969 in Bangkok, Thailand) is a Thai personality, philanthropist, and beauty queen who held the title Miss Universe 1988. Simon is President and founder of the Angels Wings Foundation.^[1] She is on the Board of Regents of Pepperdine University, the Board of the Children's Museum of Indianapolis as a Distinguished Advisor, and also is on the Board of Governors for the Dream Foundation.

Biography

Porntip Nakhirunkanok was born in Chachoengsao, Thailand. Her middle name is "Bui" (Thai: ปุ๋ย, RTGS: Pui, pronounced [pǔj]), which is her preferred name. It means "to sleep like a baby" in Thai. In the early 70's, she was brought to the United States by her family. She is the first daughter of Sornglin Nakhirunkanok. She had a younger sister who had died in 2005. In August 1988, Nakhirunkanok was presented the Thai Royal Medal of Honour, Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, by King Bhumibol Adulyadej for her service in helping needy children. She received a second Royal Decoration in 2001, Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand.

In 1989, she was named United Nations Goodwill Ambassador of Thailand by Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. As Goodwill Ambassador, she addressed the UN General Assembly concerning the Convention on the Rights of the Child. She graduated with a bachelor's degree psychology from Pepperdine University.^[2]

In 2002, she married Herbert Simon, an American businessman who is the owner of the Indiana Pacers basketball team and Simon Property Group.

Pageantry

She participated in the 1988 Miss Thailand pageant held in Bangkok where she won and had the right to represent Thailand at the Miss Universe pageant.

At age of 20, Simon was crowned as Miss Universe 1988 by outgoing titleholder Cecilia Bolocco on May 24, 1988 in Taipei, Taiwan. She became the second Thai woman to win the title after Apasra Hongsakula who won Miss Universe 1965.^[1] She entered the semi-finals in fourth place, right behind the United States, the Dominican Republic, and Korea. She received an interview score of 9.730, a swimsuit score of 9.684 and an evening-gown score of 9.752. Simon became the first woman ever to win both the Miss Universe and Best National Costume award in one pageant.

References

External links

• Simon's Angels Wings Foundation

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Chutima Naiyana	Miss Thailand 1988	Succeeded by Yonlada Ronghanam
Preceded by Cecilia Bolocco	Miss Universe 1988	Succeeded by Angela Visser