The Mai Effect

Fresh off her cover shoot for ELLE Singapore-draped in head-turning Bvlgari jewels-Davika Hoorne radiates the charm and allure of a woman who's both wildly ambitious and perfectly content in her own skin. Here, the 32-year-old Thai-Belgian star reflects on two decades in the spotlight, and why she's not done dreaming just yet.

- JASMINE ALIMIN

Davika Hoorne walks into the room with an air of nonchalance barefaced, dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, effortlessly embodying the chill vibe she claims to embrace off-screen. Yet, the moment she steps in front of a camera, she transforms. With her statuesque frame and magnetic presence, she channels glamour, radiates sophistication, and commands every lens in her orbit. “Behind the camera, I’m just Mai,” she says with a laugh. “You’d probably be surprised to see me in my daily life—I’m in pyjamas most of the time!”

It’s this duality that makes Davika so fascinating. She navigates the worlds of film, fashion, and social media with ease, embodying the kind of modern-day versatility that defines her generation. Drenched in Bvlgari’s Tubogas collection, Davika glimmers, not just because of the jewellery but because she lives for moments like this. “I love wearing expensive things,” she admits unabashedly. “It’s not a duty— it’s something I truly enjoy.”

Davika’s road to becoming one of Asia’s biggest stars is the stuff of dreams. But like all dreams, it came with its share of uncertainty, personal transformation, and relentless hustle. “I started when I was 12, just because I loved posing and watching movies,” she recalls, smiling at the memory. “I saw some of my neighbours going for casting calls and begged my mom to let me try, too.” She got the job on her very first attempt, a lucky break that kick-started a two-decade career spanning blockbuster films, television series, and high-profile fashion collaborations.