The cute-faced 20-year-old luuk thung superstar Kratae began as a muay Thai boxer. Now, she’s thinking of representing Thailand in the Olympics, in taekwando.

I fought 37 matches. Maybe female boxing is not as violent as the men’s, but it still hurts. You know, I am small. But in the ring, I must not show that I am hurt.

I was a little bit afraid that they would hurt my face and that I wouldn’t be pretty anymore. I’m afraid of so many things in a fight, but never of my opponents.

The Muay Thai Female Thailand Championship I won was the most memorable match. I fought Fah Sang Sor Pran Prai, who is very muscular and big. I got hurt a lot, but I’m very proud of having pulled through.

I’m more excited for a fight than for a stage performance. There are only two boxers in the ring and the cheering surrounds you. Everything is up to me, my training and my wits. At the end, there is a winner and a loser and I know who I want to be.

Boxers are expected to look strong and threatening. I usually wear a pink outfit, with pink boxing gloves and braided hair—a very girly look. The first few times I got on a boxing ring, the audience laughed at me and thought I would be kicked to death.

The cute pink outfit became my trademark. And when people actually see me fight, they are surprised and they accept me as a boxer.

Boxing is far more exhausting than singing. For a month or two I had to run 7-8 kilometers, then kick a sandbag 200-300 times, do sit-ups, etc. for three hours a day. But singing prep is just like 45 minutes with some dance steps.

I believe my fans want to see me in the ring again. Many of them have never seen me fight and only discovered me when I began to sing. They can’t believe that the fighter is the same one as Kratae of Perd Jai Sao Tae. I want to do another fight for them.

I also want to be a taekwando martial artist and to be in the national team. During the time I wasn’t on TV, for three years, I concentrated on studying and training. I participated in the To Be Number One competition and I won the first prize—maybe because I have basics in muay Thai. I had had only two days to learn taekwando! Then I entered another two competitions and I won both.

Many teenagers still listen to luuk thung, I think. I’ve got many shows in nightclubs and my friends told me the song “Sao Tae” is played at almost every club. It’s great that teens like luuk thung.

I like luuk thung because my mom and dad are luuk thung singers. And Pumpuang Duangjun is my idol. She was so perfect—her voice, her dancing and her way with the audience. I want to be able to do even just half of what she did.

I had a regular teen life, but not quite like my friends. I worked a lot during my “free” time and hung out with my mom. We are so close people always tease that we are like sisters.

I get garlands of bank notes from time to time. Sometimes, there are thousands of baht. It’s not as much as Chaiya Mitchai or other likay-turned-luuk thung who get hundreds of thousands. My fans just want to show that they like me.

I have a show almost every day now, since I launched my second album Khongkwan Jak Sao Tae. I have fans who never miss a show, whether it’s in Bangkok or neighboring provinces. They bring me sweets and dolls every time.

My first album, Luuk Thung Fourteen, that I did with my friends, sold just 8,000 copies. But from that album I got a hit song “Mai Dai Tung Jai Dum,” which made me famous. My first solo album, Perd Jai Sao Tae, went on to sell 100,000 copies!

Each singer has a different  voice. Whether it’s good or bad is up to the listeners.

My parents are excited about my albums. They are very happy for me because I have always wanted to be here, to be an artist. That’s why I have to do my best. I want to be here for a long time.