Mint Pattarasaya: A classic girl-about-town
From runways to recording studios, the multihyphenate does it all
IN AN ENTERTAINMENT WORLD THAT increasingly celebrates versatility and reinvention, being a triple threat – that “model-actor-singer” trifecta that once ruled the spotlight – is no longer enough. Today’s stars are expected to be chameleons, seamlessly adapting to a media landscape where artistic boundaries blur, and creativity knows no bounds.
At age 30, Mint Pattarasaya is already a triple threat. But she’s also an influencer with some 271,000 Instagram followers, a fixture at fashion shows across the style capitals, a gourmet who travels the world for rare culinary experiences, a cosmopolitan with globewide connections, and an aspiring entrepreneur.
Much like the quintessential girl-about-town, Mint has an ever-evolving identity, adapting to the ebb and flow of the city – which could be Bangkok, London, Paris or New York, depending on the season.
Today, she is in her birth city of Bangkok for a photo shoot with BT Luxe. Having modelled since she was 16, Mint instinctively knows how to strike the perfect pose, whether she’s clothed in a slinky Fendi dress and boots, or a head-turning Bottega Veneta skirt adorned with dense fringes.
“People think modelling is easy,” she says, “but I was once put in a small pool where I had to lay for hours for a water-themed shoot, until my skin was peeling off… Another time, I had to shoot a TV commercial for a sunscreen product, which had me baking in the sun for two straight days. When I got back, I was so badly burnt, I couldn’t even turn in my bed. My dad asked if I was OK. I said: ‘I’m dying, I can’t do this anymore.’”
But she can and she does, nailing runway walks and editorial shoots with ease, breathing life into each frame with a natural feline grace, and oozing a self-assuredness that translates into captivating photos. They seem to stem from her enduring love of fashion, which extends into her large personal wardrobe of stunning designer wear.
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“I adore a good classic Chanel jacket. I adore a fitted Tom Ford dress. I love Hermes’ spring/summer collection. I have a penchant for Prada, Ralph Lauren and Salvatore Ferragamo, especially with the new-ish creative director Maximilian Davis at the helm. I adore all these classic silhouettes with Italian tailoring. I tend towards either neutral or bold colours. Something classic, timeless and elegant. Something I could see myself wearing all the time.”
Asked what she’d wear to make a killer entrance, she says: “I’d pick the YSL dark brown fitted dress that I have. It’s super sleek, stretching down to my ankles, and boasting fitted long sleeves. I would put on some gold handcuffs from YSL, as well as a pair of YSL heels – that’s (how) I’d dress to impress.”
Calling the tune
Beyond fashion, her interests are as diverse and labyrinthine as Bangkok’s urban terrain. At home, she has over 1,000 vinyl records, ranging from jazz legends Nina Simone and Stan Getz to the soulful tunes of Bill Withers and Lana Del Rey. “I listen to my vinyls every morning. I love jazz and blues. I have the personal taste and habits of a grandmother – or maybe a classic kind of girl.”
The two singles she’s released so far – and the third she’s in the process of recording – are soothing pop confections that cater to her Thai fans. The first release, which carries a Thai title roughly translating to Met Her First, is a romantic number with a wistful thought: “Had I met you first, it would have spared me all my previous heartbreaks.” The second single titled 10 Minutes is another romantic hummer, a plea for her lover to stay 10 more minutes before leaving.
While she may not write the lyrics herself, she collaborates closely with songwriters to convey her personal romantic experiences. Her first two music videos have a combined viewership of 6.3 million on YouTube, and her third release is eagerly anticipated for the coming year.
She says: “I always knew that I wanted to be a singer. As a kid I was a bit cheeky, skipping classes often. But when it came to art, drama or music classes, I always showed up.
“I don’t know if you believe in this stuff, but I actually manifested things as a kid to help me become a singer – and then everything just happened. I started acting in some 30 music videos and a couple of TV shows, and eventually I got noticed by the GMM Grammy label and started on my own journey of making music.”
The joy of making music is akin to her passion for modelling. “I simply love working with creative people. In fashion, I get to meet designers, stylists, make-up artists and photographers. In music, I get to work with producers, songwriters, instrumentalists and more. All these experiences drive me forward.”
Globetrotting gourmet
Growing up as the daughter of two successful entrepreneurs, Mint cultivated her taste for fine dining at an early age. The self-professed epicure has become a trusted guide among her friends seeking restaurant suggestions – as well as an object of envy for her globetrotting gourmet adventures.
“Last month, I went to Table by Bruno Verjus. (A Parisian restaurant renowned for its cuisine using the best produce France has to offer.) I thought it was fantastic, one of my favourite meals in recent years.
“I also really like The Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare. (A three-Michelin-star establishment in New York which combines French techniques and Japanese influences.) And I highly recommend Sushi Yoshitake in Tokyo.” (Sushi Yoshitake is a three-Michelin-star restaurant as well, led by chef Masuda Yoshitake, famed for his prodigious ability to bring out the best flavours in fish.)
Meanwhile, her favourite restaurants in Bangkok include Sushi Masato, one of the city’s most garlanded omakase-style restaurants, and Le Cabanon, which serves fresh and authentic French-Mediterranean seafood in Sathon.
“I’ve always been a foodie since I was really young. I don’t go on diets or anything like that – though I do exercise regularly. The way I see it, food nourishes your body. And when every nutrient in a fine dining restaurant is carefully selected and sourced by the best, all those nutrients should nourish me.”
Her approach to social media is equally effortless: sharing glimpses of her life without the pressure of seeking validation or attention. She says: “I just post whatever I want. That might include a view from a window or a selfie snapped on a staircase. Sometimes my friends are puzzled: ‘We don’t understand this. What are you doing? Why are you taking something like this? It’s too artistic.’” But she remains unapologetically true to herself, and has only earned followers in the process.
Having lived in other countries including Singapore, New Zealand and the UK, she sees herself as a chameleon, adept at blending into different crowds and circumstances. “When I hang out with people in Bangkok, people would say, you’re Thai but you’re not fully Thai. But when I go to London, where I spent several years living and studying, they know that I’m not English either. So I feel like I’m always kind of in-between, putting on different personas for different crowds.”
In true cosmopolitan spirit, her long-term aspiration is to work internationally to broaden her professional horizons. “I’d like to start my own business, release records every year, explore the cuisine of different cities, and make friendships on the fly. I see myself as a global citizen, with roots in diverse places, cultures and experiences. These threads are what make me and guide me through the world.”
Photography: Ivanho Harlim, assisted by Shysi Novita Styling and directions: CK Hair styling: Jatupong Chumjam Make-up: Remi D Location: Royal Suite at Intercontinental Hotel Bangkok
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