Interview

Should Cover Girls Cover Up?

By THE IRRAWADDY Monday, June 28, 2010

COMMENTS (20)

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I used to live in a closed society. No contact with the outside world. I didn’t know what was happening around the world. These days, many Burmese are living in different countries and their eyes and ears are opened. They understand that wearing a bikini is not undermining Burmese culture.

Q: Has the criticism affected you?

A: Every artist is criticized whether he or she is successful or not. Some praise you, some criticize you.

Q: Do you see any differences between international models and those in Burma?

A: Frankly, I don’t know that much about modeling in Burma because I was so young when I started there. As far as I know, for example, in Burma, most models are also movie actresses at the same time. Or singers. Their faces are known and they are popular in advertisements. The reason behind that is because the modeling market is very very small. Here is Europe, for example, if a model has beautiful legs, she could be successful in advertising footwear. She will even get her legs insured.

In Burma, no matter how beautiful or successful a model you are, it is difficult to go abroad to work. As you know, just holding a Burmese passport can be a difficult task.

In Western countries, if you are a successful model, you can earn thousands of dollars an hour. Models can therefore rely on modeling salaries for a living. This is the main difference between Burma and other countries.

Q: Who are your own favorite models?

A: From Burma, I like Tin Moe Lwin, Thanda Hlaing and Papa Win. Internationally, I like Kate Moss.

Q: What difficulties do Burmese models face in getting international recognition?

A: First, it is difficult to go abroad from Burma. For example, Thai models can go anywhere. They can get visas easily. But we Burmese models can’t do that. Applying for a visa is so difficult for many unknown reasons.

Another thing is that, as far as I understand, agencies in Burma are unable to make contact with other modeling agencies worldwide. You know, we still don’t have a McDonald's in Burma.

I think, when we have a change in government, we will have more openness and opportunity. Then, people's eyes and ears will be opened to the world. Burmese people have potential, but they need opportunities.

I am always watching the condition of the modeling industry in Burma. I think that the model Chan Chan should come here [to London] instead of working in Burma. She could be very successful. I am only 5 foot 4 inches. In this country, to be a model, you must be between 5 foot 9 and 5 foot 11.

My aim is not to become a fashion model, but a commercial photo model. At the moment, modeling is still just my hobby.

In the future, what I want to do is social work. I want to open schools for children in the border areas. That is my real dream.

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COMMENTS (20)

Ko Liberal Wrote:

01/07/2010

I totally agree with Dr Myo Thi ha. Majority of Burmese men are saying like they own all Burmese girls. What the girls should wear, what the girls shouldn’t expose, what the girls shouldn’t do, bla, bla, bla. They are like radical Muslims. Don’t kill the woman's right with cover up culture issue. SHAME ON BURMESE MEN (I don’t mean all). Look at our own culture before English colonial time; you will see how Burmese women showed off their cleavage.

Hazel Moe, we support you. Try to get your achievement.

Ko Reh Wrote:

01/07/2010

Burma can no longer preserve its rich culture. Military power has undermined almost every single sector of social and economic survival for the people in Burma. This is nothing new to so many people who understand present Burma's economic and social status. This young model Hazel Moe (Honey Oo) has to make her own choice in order be able to take of her self since ruling institution makes no step to develop country's economic and social reforms.

Great job Honey Oo! You will get supports from those who understand the situation of your country. Walk on!

Ko Reh

Khin Nwe Aye Wrote:

01/07/2010

In response to a comment that no Burmese woman has commented yet: I'm an old Burmese woman and still wear my longyi when weather permits in US. I've been to Burma recently and noticed young girls no longer wear longyis anymore, maybe just 25% still don the traditional garb. Most are in shorts or skirts, much to their detriment, as our Burmese ladies have fat legs. Culturally, I deplore this trend but Honey Oo is a model, which is in a totally different category, and she lives in the UK, where you can't expect a teenager to wear longyis. And as she is modeling beachwear, she has to wear bikinis. I saw only one photo and she looks young and charming and carefree. But she needs to slim down if she wants to continue modeling swimwear. Apart from this problem, I give my full support to Honey to go ahead with her career, and also give my "Saddhu" for her goal to open schools on the border.

wine Wrote:

30/06/2010

Some Burmese are so myopic especially in cultural issues.

They are so used to living under oppressive government censorship they are feeling uncomfortable without one. They can't see the bigger picture and are too subjective. I have two points for them.

+ They have to understand that culture without flowing movements will wither away someday. Try to keep if you want but it will never be a main stream. So if someone wants to keep a culture alive, keep it evolve and try to influence other. Look at "pha ye" tattooed Chin ladies and Padaung tribes in Burmese land.

+ If the stone age tribes kept their culture so aggressively, the usage clothes would never be exited. On the other hand if Burmese cultural resistance was so strong while British ruled, we would end up with "young done", "htoe gwin", "yin see" and "htine ma thein". We have to accept that Burmese culture changed dramatically in the past 200 years.

The Art Piece Wrote:

30/06/2010

We're all born naked. We only have one life. I say to Honey Oo, be happy with your life regardless of what other people say. Your one truthful friend is YOU. Be yourself. That should ring the bell. If not, then listen to this song: "KyawHein-TinGyan Ka AKyaung"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1NCbIuXXfs

Aung Wrote:

29/06/2010

Doing is right rather than watching.

Zaw Min Wrote:

29/06/2010

She is not committing a crime or showing low morality by posing as she did. If our people who want democracy and human rights cannot accept this, we do not deserve to get democracy and human rights.

wine Wrote:

29/06/2010

Haha. This one even got into English Version.
I have one suggestion for people who are conservative about culture. What if stone age tribes were keeping their culture aggressively? We will end up wearing nothing. Think about it. Human race develops because of its readiness to change and desire to try in different ways.

The culture without enough tolerance will be left behind one day.

Myatye Moe Wrote:

29/06/2010

Even in 1800's America, women wearing pants was viewed as social or spiritual abomination unto God [still doesn't change in some places. eg: Amish women and the United Pentecostal Church women wear dresses or skirts].

As factory and technology advanced, businesses boomed and this ideology gradually changed. To this day, blonde girls in bikinis swarming around the beach and lying in the sun is viewed as 'cool.' Poor Honey Oo, the 21st century girl in an isolated country definitely will love to be cool in her bikini swim suit too.

Differences in opinion is natural. Some Burmese will view current fashion trends as irrelevant to the culture, but other will view it as cool. As time passes by, culture and fashion are constantly subject to change though.

Tettoe Aung Wrote:

29/06/2010

This goes to the heart of the right of individuals. We may talk about democracy, nationalism, maintaining of one cultures and so on but when it comes to practically, we fall far short of the mark. Why can't we respect the rights of others? We are hypocrites when we talk about 'cultural appropriateness'.

The BSPP officials who made policies on culture, how a singer should not dress or act when performing on TV and such would be the same people who wanted to be taken to 'red light' areas, nude bars when they were on foreign trips. No wonder our country is in a mess. If 'hiri' and 'anawtappa' have to be considered in one dress why not with other acts such as stealing, killing and so on? What's good for the goose must also be good for the gander.

tocharian Wrote:

29/06/2010

What's all this fuss about a girl showing her body? Times have changed and one should remember how Victorian England was like. Anyway I am sure "even" Burmese girls do know a few things about sex appeal. LOL

Zam Mang Wrote:

29/06/2010

Burmese way to Socialism failed. Now, Burmese way to Democracy will fail. Burmese way to Model is not good enough to become a world level model. What we want to see is to become world level achievement. If Honey is in Burma, judge her with the Burmese standard. She is now trying to enter into the global level. The Burmese way of modeling will never meet the global standard. Even though I do not encourage to become a spoiled girl, I encourage her to go until to achieve what she can never get in Burma.

Nyunt Shwe Wrote:

29/06/2010

According to one of her two photos, I don't hire her as a bikini model as she is too fat for the job. Foreign models are slim and you cannot see the belly and rounded waste.

Myanmar government should take actions who goes to extreme. Every Myanmar citizen has a duty to preserve the good points of our culture. Women shouldn't show too much of their flesh.

I remember one the short story of a rape case trial in Myanmar. The Judge was a woman who wore hman-nai-lun eingyi. The culprit was sentenced and allowed to express his feeling. He apologetically asked the Judge to tell the ladies to take care of what they were wearing. I read that story in the 1960's and I believe those ladies who wear fleshy outfits are inviting crimes. There are of course some men who could not resist their arousing desires. Our country is still far from developed. There are only handful classes of people who have wealth and never bother blunder our culture.

Nyunt Shwe Wrote:

29/06/2010

I could not agree with Honey Oo and she shouldn't forget that she is one of the members of Myanmar society.

Of course, culture changes in due course, but she seems like to force it happen now. She could not justified by pointing others.

We must try to slow the unwanted changes that take place rapidly. Of course, most of the men would like to enjoy to eye the flesh up to forbidden portions of women. I dare say that she is still too young to understand even what culture stand for for a nation.

Snoopy Wrote:

28/06/2010

"In the future, what I want to do is social work. I want to open schools for children in the border areas. That is my real dream."

It really touches my heart to hear such noble words from a model girl. It is so nice of Honey Oo to remember the poor children in her thoughts and prayers. May she be richly blessed with graces and success.

Dr.Myo.THI-HA Wrote:

28/06/2010

The persons who complaining and criticizing to bikini model are the mentally sick "Talibans".

Go ahead Honey Oo. We support you.
We are human being and we are not the "Stupid Talibans" by the reason of culture.

Oh! our culture...I forget...
YES, "cultural Ministry" will take care of to keep our cultural and tradition with their own people/staffs. Because we pay for them to do it.

mai lay Wrote:

28/06/2010

Hello Honey Oo: acording to your interview, I think some of part you may be right of your some opinion but I would say this is not the right way to get your opportunity.

Also i did not see any top model face and magazine in our country so please if you have not any position model yet, you can try other way to make popular, otherwise poeple going to put up you down ....you are still young and yet try the best yourself not to show your body ..we love you honey oo

James O'Brien Wrote:

28/06/2010

Glad to hear from Free Man. The previous commentators were Male Chauvinist Pigs.

What she is doing is modeling, not porn or soft porn which would be illegal.

You would not want "Burmese" women to be covered head to foot as under fundamentalist Islamic law, see Azar Nafisi's "Reading Lolita" in Teheran,Iran, about old men who forced young women to marry them, and "body police" feeling up women under their clothes.

Did you notice no women as yet commented.

Anyway, she is maybe a UK citizen and what she is doing is perfectly legal, besides she is an adult.

Men are too eager to say what women should or should not do, from thousands of miles away.

What about the male Burmese photographers or artists who paint nudes?

Enough, this is a storm in a teacup, no, bikini.

She looks a perfectly nice young person and well brought up to me.

HumanBeing Wrote:

28/06/2010

You can not judge people by what they are wearing. You can wear whatever you want as long as you know your boundaries and what you want to achieve in your life. For example, she knows what she is doing and controlling herself and she even has aim for her future and other people. So you cannot judge about people' class and education by clothing.

Free Man Wrote:

28/06/2010

I am waiting to read illiberal comments from those who claim to want and/or fight for (liberal) democracy which is made up of elements such as individualism, liberty, tolerarnce, eqaulity, constitutionalism, etc.

Oh..no..you should not wear this and that cos it's not our culture. You should not do this and that etc. etc. You should not question older people (based on reason) as it's rude. The thing is that before the British colonized Burma, many of our wowmen were topless, didn't wear brassieres or bodices, panties, etc.