Maria Poonlertlarp

Maria Lynn Ehren (Thai: มารีญา ลินน์ เอียเรียน)
Born	(1992-01-18) 18 January 1992 Bangkok, Thailand
Other names	Maria Poonlertlarp, มารีญา พูลเลิศลาภ, มารีญา ลินน์ เอียเรียน
Alma mater	Erasmus University Rotterdam Stockholm Business School
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title	Miss Universe Thailand 2017
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Brown
Major competition(s)	Miss Universe Thailand 2017 (Winner) Miss Universe 2017 (TBD)

Maria Lynn Ehren (Thai: มารีญา ลินน์ เอียเรียน; born 18 January 1992), also known as Maria Poonlertlarp (Thai: มารีญา พูลเลิศลาภ), is a Swedish-Thai model, singer, and beauty pageant titleholder. Maria Lynn Ehren was born in Bangkok, Thailand to a Swedish father, Goran Ehren, an electrical engineer and a Thai mother, Chanoksuang Ehren (née Poonlertlarp), a former teacher at the American TESOL Institute. On 29 July 2017, she won Miss Universe Thailand 2017 and will represent Thailand at Miss Universe 2017.

Early life

Maria Lynn Ehren was born in Bangkok, Thailand to a Swedish father, Goran Ehren, an electrical engineer and a Thai mother, Chanoksuang Ehren (née Poonlertlarp), a former teacher at the American TESOL Institute. At age two, she moved to Hanoi, Vietnam with her family and later returned to Bangkok with her family when she was seven years old. At age 14, she began to train as a model with Elle Thailand. After she graduated with a bachelor's degree from Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, she later attended Stockholm Business School for her master's degree within Stockholm University, receiving her degree in international business commerce. Ehren speaks Thai, English, Swedish and Chinese.

While residing in Sweden, Ehren first worked as an English teacher, followed by a brief career as a disc jockey. She then worked as the head of a marketing committee in the Erasmus Student Network in Rotterdam. In 2014, Ehren returned to Thailand to work for Broadgate Financial, where she advanced to managerial duties in digital marketing. In August 2016, Ehren posed on Beauty cover for Vogue Thailand.

Miss Universe Thailand 2017

Ehren, 25 of Thai-Swedish descent, graduated from Stockholm Business School and entered the pageant as a favorite for her existing fame as a model, stage presence and English-language skills. During its preliminary segment, Ehren won the Boutique Lady title sponsored by Bangkok Airways with a grand prize of 100,000 Baht cash prize and a complimentary round-trip first class airline ticket for the upcoming Miss Universe 2017 pageant destination. Ehren was crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2017 on 29 July 2017 at the Royal Paragon Hall in Bangkok by outgoing titleholder Chalita Suansane.

For top 2 final question & crowning, “Equality of men and women in Thailand isn’t equal yet,” Ehren said when asked what was difficult about being a woman. “But to move forward, both men and women have to hold hands and move forward together, because it’s not just an issue about women. This stage will help me to succeed and build foundations to help Thailand,” Ehren said when asked why she was competing, adding that she’d most like to tackle issues of teenage pregnancy and ocean pollution. In the pageant, Ehren won the elusive Thailand sash and crown, a 2018 Honda Civic Turbo RS automobile, one million baht cash prize, and one full year contract sponsorship by BSC Cosmetology services.

And during her national competition, she advocated towards gender equality, teenage pregnancy, proper trash disposal and care for the homeless.

Miss Universe 2017

On 26 November 2017, Ehren will represent Thailand at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ehren's National Costume

Ehren will wear Thai National Costume named Mekhala Lor Kaew (Thai: เมขลาล่อแก้ว) aka "Chasing the Light" (Mekhala’s Jewel Bait) which is inspired by one of Thai literature, Ramakien, a version of the Ramayana as Thailand's national epic about legend of Parashurama the Thunder God and Manimekhala, the Goddess of Lightning. The Thai national costume was designed by Prapakas Angsusingha, a local Thai professional artist, designer and owner of Bangkok based Thai brand named Hook's By Prapakas. He also designed many outfits for Aniporn Chalermburanawong and Chalita Suansane during Miss Universe pageant 2015-2016. Ehren had to study and practice khon which includes traditional Thai dance and puppetry art of Hun krabok.

Social Service

She's a teaching English volunteer at Duang Prateep, a non profit foundation for children in Thailand during Jul 2009. And on September 13, 2017 Maria visited the Emergency Home with UNFPA team to participate in a workshop and to talk to teen moms. The Emergency Home is a special project under the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women (under the Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Soamsawali). This place is provided assistance to women and children who are victims of forced prostitution, rape, HIV/AIDS, abandonment, physical and emotional abuse as well as women with unwanted pregnancy.

Personal Life

Ehren is an adherent of agnosticism and a practicing Theravada Buddhist, the dominant religion of Thailand.

Music Album

ARTIST : Maria Lynn Ehren(มารีญา ลินน์ เอียเรี่ยน), ALBUM:MAXI SINGLES, STYLE:Pop Dance, LABEL : SMALLROOM, Year: 2010

Single

• Blur(เบลอ)
• Boong(บุ๋ง)
• Come Along(คัม อะลอง)
• Grin(รอยยิ้ม)
• Wait up(เก็บโต๊ะ)

Other Works

Maria also appeared in many interviews and presentations, other artists videos, in commercials, magazine covered and also in various videos.

External links

• Miss Universe Thailand website