Miss Universe 1988, Porntip Nakhirunkanok (THAILAND)
Miss Universe 1988, the 37th Miss Universe pageant, was held
on 24 May 1988[a] sponsored by Formosa Airlines at the Lin Kou Stadium in
Taipei, Taiwan. 19 year-old Porntip Nakhirunkanok from Thailand was crowned by
Cecilia Bolocco of Chile at the end of the event. 66 contestants competed in
this year.
Placements
Miss Universe 1988, Thailand – Porntip Nakhirunkanok
1st Runner-up, Korea – Jang Yoon-jeong
2nd Runner-up, Mexico – Amanda Olivares
3rd Runner-up, Japan – Mizuho Sakaguchi
4th Runner-up, Hong Kong – Pauline Yeung
Top 10
Colombia – Diana Arévalo
Dominican Republic – Patricia Jimenez
Norway – Bente Brunland
United States – Courtney Gibbs
Venezuela – Yajaira Vera
Special Award Winners
Congeniality, Liza Maria Camacho - Guam
National Costume, Porntip Nakhirunkanok - Thailand
Photogenic, Tracey Williams - England
BIOGRAPHY
Bui Simon (born Porntip Nakhirunkanok (Thai: ภรณ์ทิพย์ นาคหิรัญกนก; RTGS:
Phonthip Nakhirankanok; pronounced [pʰɔ̄ːn.tʰíp nâːk.hì.rān.kā.nòk]); born on
February 7, 1968. Simon is President and
founder of the Angels Wings Foundation. 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.
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.
Pageantry
In 1983, at the age of 15, Simon took part in the Miss
California Teen USA where she was placed 1st runner-up. Upon her return to
Thailand, she participated in the 1988 Miss Thailand pageant held in Bangkok
where she won 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,
Republic of China. 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.
Life after Miss Universe
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.
In 2002, she married Herbert Simon, an American businessman
who is the owner of the Indiana Pacers basketball team and Simon Property
Group.