A True Thai Icon, Artist, DJ and Boxing Star To Follow on Instagram

You might not know these famous Thai artists, Thai DJ, and Thai celebrities. Time to find out and learn more about them.

Although it is very difficult to keep up with the gluttony of famous Thai popular culture celebrities because of their popularities change overnight.

Here are seven famous Thai celebrities that have achieved not only mainstream status in Thailand for their achievements but also crossed-over to the western world.

1 – Tony Jaa Thai Movie Star

Tony Jaa is a bonafide, all-round badass, much like the Thai version of Chuck Norris or Jackie Chan. Mr Jaa, to you, was born in the northeastern province of Surin and has become the most significant action movies star from Thailand to hit mainstream America. Following in the footsteps of his idols, Brice Lee and Jet Li, Tony has starred in a vast plethora of international movies such as Mortal Combat, the classical Ong-Bak and was contracted for a part in the Universal Studios movie franchise, Fast and Furious 7. 

2 – Thongchai Jaidee Thailand Golf Icon

Although Thongchai Jaidee might not be as glamorous or as badass as Tony Jaa, his achievements in the golf world have not only been miraculous but have also inspired many other young golfers in Thailand to pick up the game. Playing for many years on the Asian and European Golf Tours, Thongchai has not only put Thailand golf on the map but has also amassed winnings in the region of 5 million dollars on the Asian tour, alongside 19 professional wins across the board. 

3 – Tata Young Thai Female Icon

Tata is a true crossover icon of  Thai pop music world, having some success in America with her unique brand of Western-influenced pop music. She first sprung to prominence in a national singing contest at the tender age of 11 and signed her first record deal shortly after. She has released eight studio albums during her career, 3 in English and 5 in Thai. Her first album sold over 1 million copies. Tata has also starred in films such as The Red Bike Story (Jakkayan See Daeng), O-Negative and Plai Tien a TV drama Wick of the Candle, and is one of Thailand’s most celebrated exports. 

4 – Buakaw Banchamek – Thai Boxing Kingpin Icon

Muay Thai boxing isn’t just a sport. It’s an entire culture and lifestyle. In recent times, one man has stood out from the rest and become a true icon in Thailand. Buakaw Banchamek, more famously known as ‘Buakaw’, has become a true icon in the Thai boxing game and the most famous name in the country. He became the K-1 Max World Champion in 2004, which immediately launched his fame in Thailand. This man is a demigod of the Thai boxing and kickboxing world.

5 – Job Bunjob (Job2Do) Thai Artist

Not many Thai musicians and musical artists can reach a broad Western audience in Thailand quite like Job Bunjob, more famously known by his music pseudonym, Job2Do. Showcasing his own brand of Thai-reggae, Job2Do is a famous Thai-Rasta icon with some of the most popular crossover singles. A Thai artist has ever recorded, such as ‘Do Tur Tam’, ‘Lai Kin’ and many more. You can catch Job2Do performing regularly around the South of Thailand, especially in places such as Phuket and his home, Koh Lanta. 

6 – DJ Nakadia Global House Thai DJ

Quite easily, the most successful and popular Thai dance music DJ of our age, DJ Nakadia started out with humble beginnings but has rapidly become the biggest Thai DJ icon on the export market ever. Famous for her own brand of tune selection, DJ Nakadia now lives in Koh Samui but spends much of the Western summer months performing live DJ sets across Europe, especially in places such as Ibiza. She is always high in demand. 

7 – Vanessa Mae World Famous Thai Classical Musician

Is there any Thai icon alive that is more talented than Vanessa Mae? It’s hard to tell. But one thing is sure, this British-born half-Thai, the half-Singaporean starlet, is famous as one of the most skilled violinists in the world. Her album sales alone have reached several million, making her one of the youngest and wealthiest entertainers in the world. Not only that, but she also took part in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Alpine Skiing for Thailand.

It’s sometimes surprising how little people actually know about local or even internationally renowned Thai celebrities. If you are interested in learning more about the kingdom than Thai celebrities, check out our Thailand FAQ section at Thailand Event guide that will answer all your questions.