A Touching Story of a Ladyboy's Life in Thailand, Once Bullied Now Successful

Kapanlagi.com - When talking about Thailand, one thing that often comes to mind is the word 'ladyboy'. Not without reason, in the land known as the White Elephant, men who undergo gender reassignment surgery or are transgender are often encountered. And it is something that is commonly seen.

But the question is, are the ladyboys actually accepted by the people of Thailand? To get the answer, the Youtube channel Asian Boss recently interviewed a ladyboy named Sauce, who lives in Bangkok exclusively.

In the interview, Sauce candidly tells her life story, complete with the treatment she has received as a transgender person in Thailand. However, Sauce herself is not an ordinary person, as she is quite successful in her career.

"My name is Sauce (Sirikanya Julalukkun). I am 25 years old and currently living in Bangkok. I am studying Fashion Design at Bangkok University. I am a freelance actress. I also have my own clothing brand, Julalukun, which sells dresses and long gowns. I also have my own cosmetics brand," Sauce said in her introduction video.

1. Show Signs Since Childhood

Credit: Youtube - ASIAN BOSS

Sauce was born as a boy. Since childhood, he lived with his mother and aunt because his father left. And since childhood, Sauce has often shown signs of hormonal abnormalities in his body.

"From what I remember and what my mother said, when I was little, around 3 years old, I always stole my mother's lipstick and clothes. Then I always hid under the blanket to put on makeup," Sauce recalled.

2. Starting to Transform

As a teenager, Sauce's desire to fully become transgender became unstoppable. He began to find out about it, even consuming related drugs.

"I started to transform around the age of 15 or 16. That was when I started undergoing treatment. At that time, I didn't understand much, so I just took birth control pills, like hormone pills, Androcur," he added.

3. Proud to Have Breasts

Credit: Youtube - ASIAN BOSS

Sauce was often told that she would have breasts if she frequently consumed certain medications. So, she obediently followed. And believe it or not, the rumor slowly became a reality.

"That was the belief of transgender women when we were young. If we took those medications, our breasts would become bigger and we would become softer or more girly. At that time, it really felt like I had breasts even though they were not big. I was truly proud," Sauce replied.

4. Bullied as a Child

Now, Sauce has become a successful figure respected by many people. However, looking back at the past, she also experienced a bitter experience that made her lose the desire to continue living.

"There were times when I didn't want to continue living. I felt very depressed because my childhood friends bullied me. Older kids called me 'ladyboy' or 'gay'. My male friends did the same, I always lost my shoes every day. Back then, they weren't as accepting as they are now," Sauce recalled with tears in her eyes.

5. Gender Reassignment Surgery Initially Not Approved by Mother

Credit: Youtube - ASIAN BOSS

Sauce fully became a woman at the age of 24 after undergoing surgery. Initially, her decision did not receive approval from her mother as it was considered too dangerous with many risks. But Sauce had made up her mind.

"At the age of 24, I underwent gender reassignment surgery. It cost around US$ 1500 (or equivalent to Rp 22 million). Before the surgery, I consulted with my mother and she did not approve of it because it was dangerous and could affect my mood. I didn't understand how, but maybe the surgery could eliminate certain hormones that caused me to feel anxious and paranoid. I also experienced side effects on my body, such as becoming easily angry," Sauce revealed.

6. Never Concealing the Truth

Currently, Sauce is very proud and confident in herself. She will never hide the fact that she is not a biological woman, although many still often make wrong assumptions.

"Actually, my job requires me to interact with people through chat applications. Until today, no one knows (that I am a trans woman). There are also some people who have seen me in real life and still can't guess (that I am a trans woman). Some people can guess from my voice and some others can't. But I never hide the truth or pretend to be a woman. I openly admit that I am not a woman," Sauce said.

7. World's View on Transwoman Thailand

Credit: Youtube - ASIAN BOSS

It cannot be denied that currently many foreigners assume that Transwoman Thailand must work in the prostitution industry. Sauce also commented on this matter.

"Currently, honestly speaking, our country is very famous for its prostitution, whether it's ladyboys or real women. That's the image. So they (foreigners) might just assume that everyone works in prostitution, that Thai women are cheap, that Thai transgender people are cheap. But that's not true. I want them to see people from the inside first, then judge them from the outside. I want them to see us as human beings," Sauce concluded.

8. Watch the Video!

Video by: ASIAN BOSS

(kpl/rit)