SURE WIN

What's life like beyond having good looks and a hit BL love series? Thai superstar, Win Metawin Opas-iamkajorn talks about what it took to bridge borders to become an international celebrity and Prada's global ambassador.

- Mila Wenin

The year has gotten off to a good start for Win Metawin Opas-iamkajorn. In January, Prada announced the appointment of the 23-year-old Thai actor, model and singer as their brand ambassador. In a short two years, he has made the leap from rookie actor to international star, with over 14 million followers on Instagram and a slew of acting and popularity awards under his belt. And it was all because of 2gether: The Series, the boys' love rom-com that became a global hit.

"I have always been shy," says Win, as he reflects on his life before 2gether. "I was nervous whenever I had to be in front of people. It was only when I was forced to step out of my comfort zone that I gathered the courage to make decisions, voice my opinions and express myself. And after entering showbiz, I realised I needed to change my mindset. It's all about preparation. Like everything else in life, if you're well-prepared and well-trained, confidence will come naturally."

Observing him during the photo shoot, Win comes across as reserved rather than shy. The soft-spoken ctor is careful with his words, but he also has a cheeky side. He makes the crew laugh when he teases his manager for her "poor performance" at the Prada Men's show in Milan last June. He was burning up in his winter coat in the summer heat and she had left the portable electric fan in the hotel. "Sweat was running down my cheeks but she was busy taking picturesshe even posted a photo of me all sweaty! That's why she didn't meet her KPI last year," he jokes. The missing fan aside, attending the show was a wonderful experience for Win, from the enthusiastic welcome by fans at the airport and the show venue, as well as the excitement of meeting Korean celebrities like NCT band member Jaehyun and actor Song Kang.