Thailand is well-known for gender reassignment surgeries for trans folks. And trans people are visible everywhere – they work as flight attendants, they are in the entertainment industry, they are making coffee in the malls, and they are fighting Muay Thai.
This is Nong Rose Banjaroensuk (น้องโรส บ้านเจริญสุข): Those who have no idea who she is may start laughing because she wears mascara and lipstick when she fights. They may think it’s a joke and that it’s “cute” a kathoey (Thai for transgender) is getting in the ring. But those laughs are silenced as soon as she starts fighting. Nong Rose has fought over 200-300 times and that is no laughing matter. She is often severely underestimated by her opponents and the gamblers, which can often work to her advantage. In an article done by Vice, Nong Rose recounts of how opponents sometimes refuse to fight her, and some of those who choose to fight her will make fun of her. A post shared by น้องโรส บ้านเจริญสุข (@ros_job) on Mar 25, 2017 at 10:01pm PDT This Saturday at Thairath TV, Nong Rose will fight Sayanlek Sayangym (สายันต์เล็ก สายันต์ยิม) for the 115 pound Thairath title. Sayanlek won last month over Denmechai Tedsababaansong at Rajadamnern Stadium and is pretty active in the Thai stadiums. Thairath TV is on channel 32 if you wish to view in Thailand. For those outside of Thailand, you can watch easily from many sites that stream Thai TV channels, including the Thairath’s own website. […]
