Quick Facts
Biography
Apasra Hongsakula (Thai: อาภัสรา หงสกุล, rtgs: Aphatsara Hongsakun, pronounced [ʔàː.pʰát.sā.rāː hǒŋ.sā.kūn]; born in 1947 in Bangkok, Thailand) is a Thai model and beauty queen who has held the title Miss Universe 1965. She is the daughter of Group Captain Perm and Kayoon Hongsakula. She was the first woman from Thailand to win the Miss Universe crown.
Biography
Apasra was born and raised in Bangkok, but she was sent to learn English at a girls secondary school in Penang, Malaysia.
She married a first cousin of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, by whom she has a son. The marriage ended long ago in divorce, but she remains a revered social figure in the country. Her younger sister, Pavena Hongakul, is a prominent political figure and former member of Parliament.
Pageantry
Participation
In the 1964 Miss Thailand pageant held in Bangkok, Apasra Hongsakula, a high school student from Penang won the crown.
She then went on to compete in the 1965 Miss Universe pageant held in Miami Beach, Florida, United States where she was crowned 14th Miss Universe winner on July 28, 1965.
Judging
She returned to the pageant as a judge in 1973 and 1979.
Post Pageants
- Apasra has been appointed "cultural ambassador" by Tourism Authority of Thailand.
- President of Raymond Weil Watches.
- President of Apasra Beauty Slimming Spa.
- She is currently a judge of the Miss Universe Thailand pageant, responsible for sending Thailand's representative to the Miss Universe pageant.
Facts/Trivia
- She is the third Thai representative at Miss Universe pageant.
- She got some advice from Her Majesty Queen Sirikit about how to strike a pose and how to walk in the pageant before she went to Miami.
- Her Thai nickname is "Pook"
- Apasra was presented a new crown by Miss Universe Organization and was crowned again at a private function by Miss Universe 1991 Lupita Jones of Mexico in 1992 when Thailand hosted the 1992 Miss Universe pageant. Most Miss Universe titleholders in the old days did not get to keep the crown.