Thitima Noraphanpiphat

Thitima Noraphanpiphat was a Thai model born in 1994. She had black hair and brown eyes, and a slim build. She was 24 or 25 when she died on Monday 16 September 2019, in circumstances that made national headlines and drew attention to the risks faced by women working in Thailand's service and promotions industry.

Thitima was also a product presenter and party entertainer. On the night of her death, she had been paid to serve drinks at a party in Nonthaburi, outside Bangkok. Her body was found in the lobby of an apartment building in Bangkok, and a male model was later arrested on suspicion of involvement. The case prompted intense speculation and sparked calls for better protection for workers in the industry.

Thitima was the main breadwinner for her family and had wanted to send her 3-year-old daughter to a good school. Her death has highlighted the stigma and abuse that women in promotional work often face. Another woman who attended the same party filed a complaint saying she had been made to drink until she became unconscious, and she woke up naked the next morning. Six more people were arrested in connection with that complaint. The case put scrutiny on the role of "pretties", women hired for promotion work at events. Society often looks down on them, and the stigma can discourage them from seeking legal recourse if they are abused.