The movie can be found on youtube.


This is the story of a young man, born in the wrong body, who desperately

wanted to become a woman.

He came to realize that in order to achieve this, he needed money. And,

became a celebrated kick boxer in order to do it. She won 20 of the 22

fights that she was involved in, and became not only a celebrated

kick boxer, but a celebrated model in Thailand.

Nong Toom currently works as a model in Bangkok.

Ladyboys in Thailand come in many shades. There are the transgender ones,

who see themselves as women, then there are cross dressers who dress

as women. Then there are the ones who see themselves as a third sex.
And variations in between. There are even ones who get 'the operation'

no really seeing themselves as women, but as men who would rather

be women.

I found this story fascinating.

THough Thailand is seen as a highly tolerant society towards the LBGT

community, this does not translate to an all-out acceptance of them.

Gender roles here are extremely conservative, and often oppressive.
What many see as an embracing of diversity is really a manefestation

of the fact that Thailand is a very, VERY non-confrontational society.


Nong Toom faced discrimination and harassment despite this. And,

she prevailed and inspired a nation.

Asanee Suwan, the real life Maui Thai boxer who plays

Nong Toom (the real life person behind the story), is

simply amazing in this role.

He's both believable as a boxer, because he is one,

and does all his own stunts and fighting in the movie,

but he is equally believable as a transgender person,

which he actually isn't in real life.


And he's handsome.

He's the one doing the kicking here: