by Dr. Iain
Corness
This
week’s profile is one of a girl that I have seen grow up over the past
seven years, so it was not the usual rushed hour of interview. Talented,
trilingual, trim, taught and terrific describes young Daisy Vogt, the
daughter we would all like to have!
Daisy was born in Bad Kissingen in southern Germany, a
place she described as “an old people’s spa town”; however, when you
are 20 years old, anyone over 30 is ancient! Her parents (Marion and
Michael Vogt) were then in hospitality industry (now well known as the
guiding lights of Chiangmai Mail).
She is an only child, which can have advantages and
disadvantages. “I was the only child on both sides of my family - so I
got spoiled accordingly.” However, she went on to say, “The downside
was that my parents used to be very protective, and I had to live up to
their expectations. And I still do!” she said, raising her eyebrows!
After her first two years, her parents were transferred
to Africa, where she went to the local kindergarten and learned ‘baby’
Swahili. She can still say “Hello” with a Kenyan accent! However when
she was five years old Michael and Marion came to Pattaya, so “Jambo”
was replaced by “Sawadee Kha!”
After a few years in smaller schools she was
transferred to the International School of the Eastern Seaboard, an
institution that could help bring out the natural talent that Daisy was
already beginning to show. Following aptitude testing she was put into 6th
Grade, skipping one complete year. This certainly showed academic prowess,
but jumping grades is not always such a good idea. “It bit me in the ass
later,” said Daisy, “as I graduated very early at age 17.” She went
on to say, “What was good was that the classes were so small, and I was
(already) a bit more mature (than the others).”
It had always been very noticeable as Daisy grew up
that she was mature, well beyond her years, and I asked her if there was
anything in her upbringing that she could pinpoint as a reason for this.
“My parents always tried to keep us together as a family. This was
difficult as they were both in the hotel business, so they included me in
their activities and I think that helped me mature sooner.”
Being included in ‘adult’ activities, with her
parents attempting to maximize ‘family’ time together, soon saw Daisy
grow into a young lady who could hold her own in the ‘adult’ world.
“Sometimes it was kind of hard at functions, but I was used to being
around adults and it was harder communicating with my own age group.”
I asked Daisy directly if she felt that perhaps she had
somehow missed out on being a child, to be met with, “No, I don’t
resent my childhood. My parents always let me have fun. I went roller-blading
and the like - but I never got a puppy!” However, she explained that
since they lived in a hotel, no pets were allowed, even for the GM’s
daughter!
As she came to the end of her secondary schooling, she
was already fluent in Thai (and can read Thai), fluent in English and in
her parent’s native German. A certain theatrical flair was also becoming
evident and she was heavily involved in drama and dance, jazz and ballet.
That outgoing ability led to her acting as the anchor girl for the local
TV channel when school proms were held, or even for international sporting
events, such as the World Windsurfing championships.
Her interest in windsurfing was not just as a
spectator. After expressing some interest, her parents gave her an option.
“I could either learn windsurfing or go to Germany to learn ‘proper’
German.” Windsurfing won, and so did Daisy, who these days has a room
full of trophies she won on the water.
Like us all, when school ended we were supposed to know
what we wanted to do for the future. Like most of us, Daisy did not really
know, and in fact admits that she is still unsure of what she wants to do.
She thought about going overseas, but even for a mature 17 year old, that
would be a momentous step. Salvation, in some ways, came in a scholarship
to go to Assumption University (ABAC) to continue her studies. This was
based on her Grade Point Average. “I was the first ‘farang’
accepted,” said Daisy, making light of the fact that her academic
results were so good. She decided to study Business Administration as her
major, with a minor in Advertising, and is now 12 months away from
completing these courses, though she is unsure of the career options that
this will give her.
However, Daisy Vogt has more than one special talent.
She had done some TV commercials, as a sort of follow-on from her local
Pattaya TV appearances. These paid a little money and were a fun break
from academic studies, but were to lead her a little further into the
field of modelling. Her mother saw some information about the Elite Model
Look Thailand 2004, talent quest. This takes place in 65 countries with a
huge final later in the year. The conditions were that any applicant had
to be taller than 1.65. “I’m 1.70 so that qualified me,” said Daisy.
It is now a matter of record that Daisy went through all the way to the
Thailand final, finishing fourth and collecting a two year contract from
Elite.
So is the catwalk her future? Perhaps for a short
while, but Daisy has too many varied talents to just become a
clothes-horse. When I asked her about her aims, the reply was simply, “I
want to do everything!”
And if ever there was somebody who could do “everything”, it is
Daisy Vogt. Watch this space! In the meantime, her final words were, “If
anybody wants an intern in Event Management, I’m available!”
