She was a leading supermodel in Thailand during the 1990s for "Lookked Methinee" and "Helen Pathumrat" who today open up for the first time in 16 years about a major fight that nearly ended their friendship, on the "Kui Zab Show" program on One 31 channel.
Helen, you haven’t appeared on a show for 16 years. Is this your first time back? It’s been a long time?
Helen: Yes, I was living abroad.
Did you miss Thailand?
Helen: Very much. I missed it every day, missed my close friends.
Helen, you are the godmother of Nong Sky, Lookked’s son?
Helen: I have been following Sky since he was 10 years old.
How did you become Nong Sky’s godmother?
Helen: Lookked is my closest friend. I know everything about Sky’s mother.
Lookked: When Sky’s father and I chose his godparents, I chose Helen because I knew if anything happened, the person who could take care of Sky—if not family—would be Helen. So I asked her to be the godmother.
How did your close friendship begin?
Helen: We met when Lookked competed in 1992. I was a judge that year.
Lookked: She was a senior at the Miss Thailand World stage.
Why did you become close?
Lookked: Because we were both foreigners speaking English together. I had just arrived in Thailand and my Thai wasn’t strong, so we clicked.
Do you share similar personality traits?
Helen: We’re alike in every way.
Did you two used to be inseparable?
Helen: Yes.
Lookked: Wherever Helen was, I was there too—working, traveling, anything. We were always together; every event had both of us.
Though foreigners, you both liked fortune telling. A fortune teller said you were husband and wife in a past life?
Helen: Yes.
Lookked: We went together to see the fortune teller who said we were married in a past life.
Helen: Because we argue like husband and wife. Also, the fortune teller said one of us would live abroad and the other in Thailand—and that turned out true.
Is that fortune teller still around?
Lookked: I wonder too, it was over 10 years ago.
You remained close, but at one point Helen suddenly decided to marry her current husband?
Helen: We didn’t date, didn’t kiss, didn’t hold hands. We just looked at each other and I thought, “You’re the one.” So I asked if he was free tomorrow and if he wanted to marry.
As a close friend, were you surprised when you learned she was getting married?
Lookked: We were at some event with many models sitting together. I asked if anyone had red clothes, everyone said yes. Then she said, "Okay, tomorrow I’m getting married," and left it at that. I asked who she was marrying because I had only met him briefly. I wondered if something was going on. I asked if she was sure, and Helen said,
Helen: You don’t have to ask my thoughts. I know he’s the one.
Lookked: When she said that, I accepted it. Everyone wore red and went to the wedding the next day.
It was a very quick wedding?
Helen: The groom was two hours late, which surprised her.
Lookked: I wasn’t sure if he would come. He was late because he went to get the car.
When you meet a man, how do you know instantly he’s the right one?
Helen: His personality is like a Thai person. He had lived in Thailand for a while, could read and speak Thai.
How long did you know James before meeting him?
Helen: A short time. We met at dinner parties several times but just as friends, not dating.
You heard it was just two months before marriage after meeting?
Helen: He didn’t have money for a ring, but that was okay. Every year I wait for the diamond to be one carat. Now it’s been 26 years since we married.
You moved abroad immediately after deciding to marry?
Helen: After our daughter was born in Thailand, we moved back to Hawaii. I flew back and forth until 2010, then moved back permanently for 16 years.
While living abroad, you were seriously ill, and Lookked didn’t know?
Lookked: I didn’t know.
What illness did you have?
Helen: A slipped disc pressing on my nerve.
That’s serious and could have caused paralysis?
Helen: Yes. I started falling often and had severe headaches. I even wanted to cut my head off; it was that bad.
What treatment did you have?
Helen: Two surgeries and six months full recovery to be able to walk and drive again.
Are you fully recovered now?
Helen: Yes, I’m fine now and can wear high heels again.
You once had a fight so bad you almost cut ties?
Lookked: I was wrong. We were modeling in France, and I wanted to stay longer, so I postponed my ticket. The others left. I postponed once, no problem; the second time the ticket was lost. I had to go back to the airline for a new ticket and wait. Helen stayed with me even though she could have left. Then a third time, they said no more postponements. The night before, we went out together. She wouldn’t wake up, and I got anxious. I thought, "If she doesn’t wake up, I’m leaving." I went to the airport thinking she’d follow. I called but she didn’t answer. Methinee boarded, looked back for Helen who wasn’t there, and the gate closed. I thought I was doomed. When Helen woke up, she was alone and angry.
You were left behind in France?
Helen: Yes, and I had to get a new plane ticket. I was very angry, flying alone, and decided not to talk anymore. The first time her ticket was lost, I waited as her companion. This time she couldn’t wait for me?
Lookked: I tried waking her but she wouldn’t wake. I was scared I couldn’t return to Thailand. I felt terrible. I went to pick Helen up at the airport with flowers and cried. She walked past me like I was air. I tried to make up, but she was angry for two weeks.
Helen: People in the industry, friends in fashion, arranged for us to talk.
Lookked: We met at a restaurant, talked, cleared things up, and they wouldn’t let us leave until we resolved it. Eventually, we made up.
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