Maria Poonlertlarp

Maria Lynn Ehren
Born	Maria Lynn Ehren (1992-01-18) 18 January 1992 Bangkok, Thailand
Other names	Maria Poonlertlarp
Alma mater	Erasmus University Rotterdam Stockholm Business School
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title	Miss Universe Thailand 2017
Years active	2006–Present
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Hazel
Major competition(s)	Miss Universe Thailand 2017 (Winner) Miss Universe 2017 (Top 5)

Maria Lynn Ehren (Template:Lang-th; born January 18, 1992), also known as Maria Poonlertlarp (Template:Lang-th, RTGS: Mariya Phunloetlap, pronounced [māː.rīː.jāː pʰūːn.lɤ̂ːt.lâːp]), is a Thai Chinese descent-Swedish beauty pageant titleholder, model and singer.

Ehren won Miss Universe Thailand 2017 and represented Thailand at Miss Universe 2017, finishing as a Top 5 finalist.

Early life

Maria Lynn Ehren was born in Bangkok, Thailand to a Swedish father, Göran Ehren, an electrical engineer and a Thai Chinese 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. In 2018, she became the guest star in the 4th episode of Asia's Next Top Model (season 6).

Pageantry

Miss Universe Thailand 2017

Ehren, of Thai Chinese descent-Swedish ancestry, 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 title-holder Chalita Suansane.

During her national competition, she answered the following:

"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."

In the pageant, Ehren won the Thailand sash and crown, a 2018 Honda Civic Turbo RS automobile, one million baht cash prize, and a full-year contract sponsorship by BSC Cosmetology services.

And during her national competition, she advocated towards sexual equality, teen-age pregnancy, proper trash disposal and care for the homeless.

Miss Universe 2017

On 26 November 2017, Ehren represented Thailand at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she finished in the Top 5.

At the competition, Ehren wore a national costume named Mekhala Lor Kaew (Thai: เมขลาล่อแก้ว) aka "Chasing the Light" (Mekhala’s Jewel Bait), which was inspired by Thai literature's national epic, Ramakien, a version of the Ramayana about the legend of Thunder God Parashurama and Goddess of Lightning Manimekhala. The Thai national costume was designed by Prapakas Angsusingha, a local Thai professional artist and designer. 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.

Country	Swimsuit Competition	Evening Gown Competition	Top 5 Question and Answer	Top 3 Final Question
Thailand	9.225 (6)	9.150 (5)	8.900 (4)(ended among Top 5)

Personal life

Ehren is an adherent of agnosticism and a practicing Theravada Buddhist, the dominant religion of Thailand. In addition, she is a volunteer who teaches English at Duang Prateep, a non-profit foundation sponsored by the Thai royal family for children in Thailand.

Music

Album: Maxi Singles
Style: Pop Dance
Label: SmallRoom
Year: 2010

Single

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

External links

• Ehren's playlist on YouTube