She has always been under scrutiny regarding love and financial matters. Jenny from Did Mo Tod Sa Duchin. Or Jenny Ratchanok Suwanket. Recently, she openly addressed all concerns from netizens, especially rumors that she financially supports her husband, Yiw Chatmongkol Somkaew. She clarified firmly that each person manages their own money.
How is your life currently? We see you doing many things?
"My business is going well. Selling online continues steadily. My husband also has a platform business called YJ Mall. This year, I am directing and acting in a film about the southern region. I hope everyone will look forward to it. I've invested in many things because these are passions I've had since childhood.
Back then, I didn't have capital. As I grew up, I realized I wasn't meant to be just a singer; I can do everything I want. We also have a restaurant under Did Mo Tod Sa Duchin that we want to open soon in Bangkok, serving southern and northeastern Thai cuisine. I'm considering having my mother manage it because everything is starting to settle, and I want her nearby."
How much investment has gone into the YJ Mall platform? It seems quite large?
"I don't know the exact amount. YJ Mall is 100% Yiw's idea. I learned about it like everyone else. He quietly developed it without telling me. I later found out it’s not just a live sales platform but a marketplace for Thai people, offering fair commissions to both agents and customers. As it grows, continuous investment is needed.
Do you have concerns? Yiw is very determined and confident. I believe he can handle any situation. Whether YJ Mall succeeds as he envisions, we all learn that Thai people can create platforms as well as foreigners."
How has the platform been received?
"Very well. I was amazed. At first, I didn't pay much attention and just let him do his thing. But when I learned that over 100,000 agents signed up within just two days, I was proud that this Thai platform is run by my husband. I don’t know many details because of the English involved (laughs).
Yiw works very hard, having meetings until 4 or 5 a.m. every day. I wish for its success and thank everyone for supporting a Thai platform. As long as commissions are reasonable and fair for all parties, I see it as a happy, win-win situation."
As an online seller, how far do you think you could grow if you had your own platform?
"Today it might sound like a spoiler, but honestly, if I weren't his wife, I would still support and be part of this platform. From what he told me, the commission rates and operations are all advantageous and better for profit.
For example, if a product usually yields 30% profit, on YJ Mall you can get 50–80%. This is possible because they don't aim to profit off every seller but want our products to stay on the platform without any deductions."
Regarding money, you use separate finances?
"Yes, 100% separate finances. We agreed from the start. I'm a bit stingy (laughs). When we started, we sat down and discussed money. He is fair—he earns and pays for himself. If we go out to eat and he wants to pay, he pays; if I want to pay, I pay. Gifts for the child? Whoever wants to buy, buys. Usually, he covers fancy meals, and I handle casual places like tea or noodles (smiles)."
So people have misunderstood that you are always the one financially supporting him?
"No, that's not true. Each manages their own money. But on occasions like birthdays or Valentine’s Day, we do give gifts to show we're not stingy. I do take good care of him; as family, he is no different from a mother or sibling. If he ever needs help, I fully support him. But he is a businessman, so that gives me peace of mind."
It seems he has proven himself against rumors that he is just riding on your success?
"He has proven himself a lot. Yiw is a man who values his dignity and dislikes being seen as someone supported by his wife. He always shows people he is not that type. I always tell him he doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone; as long as he knows himself, I am happy."
So when you praise your husband all the time, it’s the truth?
"I honestly praise him. I might exaggerate, but about real things. Some people think I’m infatuated? Well, I am (smiles). I know best. If I were foolish enough to pretend my husband is good when he’s not, I would be the one suffering the consequences. So everyone can rest assured that I chose the right husband."
Recently, your family seems happy and all together?
"More or less. Jenny, my mother, and sibling meet normally. Things between me and my mother are better now. We joke about how she handled the online criticism she faced; she says there were pros and cons. The cons were she was hurt because we spoke about family matters, but the pros were that the many comments helped her realize her mistakes. It became a lesson for her growth."
Your mother seems happier now?
"Yes, she has a boyfriend now—a durian orchard owner. At first, I was cautious, but after seeing them together eating and being close, I accepted it. He is kind, simple, humble, and says he’s not rich, just a durian farmer without debt. We don’t know how many children he has (checking background?) No, we don’t. My mother is at a stage where many people approach her. We’re not saying she is so beautiful or rich.
But as Jenny Lilly’s mother, many want to get close. So anyone who approaches her must be carefully vetted. We know her financial issues; if someone comes with money problems, it would be a disaster. So at least he doesn’t burden or worry her. Are we sure about him? Not yet.
But so far, it feels good. They livestream together daily and work together. The benefit of my mother having a boyfriend is she’s not lonely and doesn’t disturb us financially like before. They work in the durian orchard in the mornings, then livestream selling in the afternoons. I think if a couple leads each other in a positive direction, that’s fine."
You offered your mother a deal: if she sells 3 million baht worth of products, you will arrange a wedding?
"Yes, my mother and her boyfriend want to marry, so I said if they want to, they must sell 3 million baht first. It’s a way to buy time and to see how things go. If they succeed, I’ll organize the wedding. My mother has sold nearly 2 million baht now and is asking if they should marry on her birthday in September. I told her to decide between September or March."
Do you still support your mother or worry about her?
"I support and consult her as usual. She doesn’t ask for money anymore, but I still give sometimes. If she wants to talk about anything else, she knows she can talk to me about everything."
So today is... the day you've been waiting for?
"I don’t think it’s quite that yet. The day we’ve been waiting for is when the extended family reunites, which hasn’t happened. Maybe we need more time for each side to prove themselves. Things are improving. Everyone asks how things are. We want it to return to that, but ultimately everyone must work on themselves to improve."
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