Sorrawee Nattee, ordained
as a monk at Khongkha Liab Temple in Songkla.
Boonlua Chatree
The winner of the 2009 Miss Tiffany Universe pageant in Pattaya has
cast aside the makeup and breast implants to become a monk in southern
Thailand.
Sorrawee “Jazz” Nattee entered the monkhood May 12 at Khongkha Liab
Temple in Songkla, followed by a gaggle of reporters aflutter with
questions over how the man who lived most his adult life as a woman
could don the golden robes.
Sorrawee “Jazz” Nattee shown
winning the 2009 Miss Tiffany Universe pageant in Pattaya.
Abbot Atuwathee Phikhu said the newly ordained “Phra
Maha Wiriyophikhu,” or “person with great perseverance” removed the
silicone breast implants that filled out his evening gown in the 2009
transgender pageant and never had gender-altering surgery. Thus, the
abbot said, “he is 100 percent male.”
Noparat Banjawattananont, director of the National Office of Buddhism,
said that transsexuals who’ve undergone surgery cannot be ordained but
that, in cases such as Sorrawee’s, the decision on whether on not a monk
must defrock is left to the abbot.
Atuwathee said Sorrawee had studied dharma for two years and had always
wanted to become a monk since he was a child. He finally made the
decision in order to repay his parents for their support.
Speaking with reporters, the de-glammed beauty queen said he intends to
remain a monk for the rest of his life. He asked the media for privacy,
saying he did not want to be a focus of tabloids and would remain at his
hometown temple to serve.