Areeya Cumming May 2026

: Born in 1971 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Areeya grew up in the United States as the daughter of Thai immigrants. She graduated with a degree in journalism from Michigan State University in 1993 before traveling to Thailand.

Areeya, nicknamed "Pop," is a multi-talented individual who transitioned from a beauty queen to a filmmaker, educator, and military officer. Below is a look at her diverse career. The Journey of Areeya "Pop" Chumsai areeya cumming

Areeya’s story is one of constant evolution, moving across continents and industries with a focus on education and social impact. : Born in 1971 in Ann Arbor, Michigan,

: Breaking typical beauty queen stereotypes, she served as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Thai Army, teaching English to soldiers at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. She later authored the book Bootcamp based on these experiences and lectured at Bangkok University and Chulalongkorn University . Below is a look at her diverse career

: In 2005, she co-directed the documentary Innocence ( Dek toh ), which followed the lives of hill tribe children in Northern Thailand. The film received international acclaim, including the Spirit Award at EIDF 2006 in South Korea.

The surname "Cumming" does not appear in official records for Areeya Chumsai. Historically, her family used the name in the U.S., but she later adopted the surname Sirisopa following a dispute regarding the original name's connection to Thai royalty. If you were searching for a different person, such as someone related to actor Alan Cumming , no direct public connection exists between him and Areeya Chumsai.

: Shortly after arriving in Thailand for a visit, she began modeling and won the Miss Thailand crown in 1994. She represented Thailand at the Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines, where she placed 13th and won the "Best Kodak Smile" award.