Engfa Waraha
Engfa Waraha | |
|---|---|
อิงฟ้า วราหะ | |
 Engfa Waraha, one of the honorees at the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation the Women in Cinema Gala, held alongside the 2025 Cannes Film Festival | |
| Born | 15 February 1995 Uthai Thani, Thailand |
| Other names | Mook[1] |
| Occupations |
|
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[2] |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss Grand Thailand 2022 |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Major competition(s) |
|
Engfa Waraha (Thai: อิงฟ้า วราหะ, RTGS: Ingfa Waraha, pronounced [ʔīŋ.fáː wá(ʔ).rāː.hàʔ]; born February 15, 1995) is a Thai musician, beauty pageant titleholder and actress.[3][4][5] She appeared in the seventh season of The Voice Thailand.[3][6][7] In 2022, she won Miss Grand Thailand 2022 representing Bangkok.[3][8][9] Later that year, she represented Thailand at Miss Grand International 2022, held in Indonesia on 25 October, where she finished as first runner-up.[10][11]
In 2024, she starred in the movie The Paradise of Thorns, which broke the 150M baht box office record[12] and earned her the Best Actress of the Year award at the 2025 Thailand Box Office Awards.[13] Her performance and advocacy work gained international recognition, including an honor at the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation the Women in Cinema Gala held during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.[14] Her efforts also sparked important discourse around LGBTQ rights in Thailand.[15]
Early life and career
Waraha was born on 15 February 1995 in Uthai Thani province into a family of musicians;[1] her father was a keyboardist and her mother was a luk thung (Thai pop-country) singer. She has 2 older sisters, Keytawan and Plaifa (also known as Daaddaew).[3][5][16][4]
Since she was born into a musical family, Waraha was able to learn musical skills from her parents, and began performing on stage at the age of six.[3][4][17] Moreover, her acquaintance and closeness with hometown traditions since childhood inspired her to dream of becoming a Likay, as well as a Thai blessing ceremonial officiant (Thai: ช่างทำขวัญ).[6][18] At the age of 17, due to her father's terminal cancer, she signed a 12-year contract with the Bangkok-based artist management organ Sangravee Entertainment to pay for her father's cancer treatment,[19][20][21] and released four singles; two in 2015 and the rest in 2016.[19] Later in 2013, a year after her father's death, she had the opportunity to meet with a master of the Thai blessing ceremony Phonraphee Maneethai (Thai: พรระพี มณีไทย) who later persuaded her to study to be an officiant skill, as well as a Thai verse singing (Thai: ขับเสภา) until proficient enough to be able to use it for a career.[3][5][18] In addition, before entering the national entertainment industry, she also worked as a waitress, greengrocer, food vendor, caddie, and model.[7][22]
Waraha became known as Engfa Sangravee after participating in the seventh season of the reality singing contest The Voice Thailand in 2018. She was eliminated in the knockout round, of the second phase of the contest.[3][6][7] Since then, she has appeared in several TV programs, such as a guest appearance in the situation comedy Pen Tor and Raberd Terd Terng, as well as taking part in many game show programmes, such as 123 Ranking Show, Still Standing Thailand, and Guess My Age.[3]
Pageantry
In 2020, Waraha entered the Miss Grand Suphanburi contest, a provincial preliminary pageant for Miss Grand Thailand, but withdraw due to contractual problems.[3][8][6][19][20][21] She returned to pageantry in 2022 and won Miss Grand Bangkok 2022.[3][4][6] She then went on to win Miss Grand Thailand 2022.[3][8][9] She also took part in Miss Grand International 2022 and was first runner-up.
Recognition
Women In Cinema Spotlight
In May 2025, Thai actress Engfa Waraha was honored at the prestigious Women in Cinema Gala, hosted by the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Held at the iconic Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes, the gala spotlighted seven women from the Arab world, Africa, and Asia who have made significant contributions to the film and entertainment industries.
Waraha was celebrated for her breakout role as Meena in the 2023 television series Show Me Love, followed by acclaimed performances in Bangkok Blossom (2024) as Kulap and delivered a standout performance as Mo Jongyoi in The Paradise of Thorns (2024), The film was a major box office success and earned her the Best Actress of the Year award at the 2025 Thailand Box Office Awards,[13] as well as a runner-up position for Best Actress at the 14th Thai Film Director Awards.[23]
Her growing body of work includes roles in Petrichor (2024) as Tul Chanwimol, along with appearances Unlimited Love and The Tipsy Mystery, further showcasing her versatility across genres.
Her recognition at Cannes coincided with the announcement of her upcoming film Lady Bee, a cinematic adaptation of the Thai literary classic The Story of Jan Dara. The project is currently being marketed international by Mokster Films.
With her expanding filmography and critically recognized performances, Engfa Waraha is fast becoming one of the most compelling actress of her generation.
The Women in Cinema initiative, now in its third year, aims to celebrate female storytellers and creators who are redefining the film industry. Waraha’s inclusion marked a milestone for Thai representation on the global stage, alongside fellow honorees such as Elham Ali, Jacqueline Fernandez, Gaya Jiji, Amina Khalil, Rungano Nyoni, and Sarah Taibah.[14]
Filmography
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Paradise of Thorns | Mo Jongyoi | |
| 2026 | Lady Bee[24] | Khun Boonleung,Lady Bee | |
| TBA | Buppah Rahtree | Buppah Rahtree |
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Show Me Love | Meena | |
| 2024 | Club Friday Hot Love Issue | Night | Episode Love Bully |
| Bangkok Blossom
บางกอกคณิกา[25] |
Kulap | ||
| Petrichor | Tul Chanwimol | ||
| 2025 | The Tipsy Mystery | Ping | |
| Unlimited Love | Phlu | ||
| The Water | "Nam" Apo Wathinwanit |
Lady Bee at Cannes Film Festival 2025
In May 2025, Waraha was featured at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where her upcoming film Lady Bee was officially announced during the Cannes Market. Although Lady Bee was not part of the official screening line up, its unveiling generated significant buzz due to its bold narrative shift and the casting of Engfa Waraha. It directed by Rutaiwan Wongsirasawad and Thanika Jenjesda, the film is a feminist reinterpretation of The Story of Jan Dara, a Thai literary classic by Utsana Phloengtham. Waraha stars as Lady Boonleung, also known as Lady Bee, a character reimagined as the central figure in a narrative exploring identity, desire, and power.
The announcement coincided with Waraha’s recognition at the Women in Cinema Gala, hosted by the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation, which honored seven women from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world for their contributions to cinema. Lady Bee is scheduled to begin principal photography in late 2025, with a global release expected in 2026.[24]
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee/work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miss Grand Bangkok | 2022 | Miss Grand Bangkok | — | Won | |
| Miss Grand Thailand | 2022 | Miss Grand Thailand | — | Won | |
| Miss Grand International | 2022 | Miss Grand International | — | 1st Runner-up | |
| TikTok Awards Thailand | 2022 | Best Live Creator Ent. & Music | Won | ||
| Celebrity of the Year | Won | ||||
| Kazz Awards | 2022 | Most Trending on Social Media | Won | ||
| Best Girl of the Year | Won | ||||
| Kom Chad Luek Awards | 2022 | Best Female Artist - Cover Folk Music | Won | ||
| TV Pool Stars Party Retire & Reborn | 2022 | Celebrity of the Year | Won | ||
| Couple of the Year (Englot) | Won | ||||
| The Idol Awards | 2022 | The Idol Award | Won | ||
| Thairath Best Of The Year | 2022 | Celebrity of the Year | Won | ||
| Entertainment News of the Year | Won | ||||
| Couple of the Year (Englot) | Won | ||||
| Sanook Top Of The Year | 2022 | Inspirational Woman of the Year | Won | ||
| Beauty Queen College Awards | 2022 | Queen of the Year | Won | ||
| Most Fans Favorite | Won | ||||
| Maya TV Awards | 2023 | Charming Woman of the Year | Won | ||
| Kazz Awards | 2023 | Shining Star of the Year | Won | ||
| Sanook | 2023 | Most Talked About of the Year | Won | ||
| Miss Grand | 2023 | Grand Voice Award | Won | ||
| Siamrath Online Awards | 2023 | Couple of the Year (Englot) | Won | ||
| The National Council On Social Welfare Thailand | 2024 | Royal Award | Grateful Child Award | — | ||
| EFM Awards | 2024 | The Rival Couple of the Year (Engfa-Jeff) | Won | ||
| HOWE Awards | 2024 | Hottest Actress Award | Won | [26] | |
| Thailand Headline Person Of The Year Awards | 2024 | Most Popular Actress in Thailand & China | Won | [27] | |
| Daily News Awards | 2024 | D-Superstar Award | Won | [28] | |
| Likay Festival Soft Power Awards | 2024 | Soft Power Award | The Miracle of Life Foundation | — | ||
| Nineentertain Awards | 2024 | People Choice Award | Mahachon Award | Nominated | ||
| Cinefile Audience Awards | 2025 | Best Leading Actress | The Paradise of Thorns | Won | [29] |
| Sanook Top Of The Year | 2025 | Actress of the Year | Won | [30] | |
| 13th Thailand Social Awards | 2025 | Best Creator Performance on Social Media - Actor & Actress | Won | [31] | |
| Thailand Box Office Awards | 2025 | Best Actress of the Year | The Paradise of Thorns | Won | [32] |
| 4th The People Awards | 2025 | Popular of the Year | Won | [33] | |
| Maya TV : Superstar Idol Awards | 2025 | Hot Star Female Idol of the Year | Won | [34] | |
| 14th Thai Film Director Awards | 2025 | Best Actress in Leading Role | The Paradise of Thorns | Runner-up | [35] |
| The Viral Hits Awards | 2025 | Best Yuri Couple of the Year (Englot) | Won | ||
| 16th Nataraj Awards | 2025 | Best Actress in Leading Role | Bangkok Blossom | Nominated | [36] |
| Nineentertain Awards | 2025 | People Choice Award | Mahachon Award | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress of the Year | Won | [37] | |||
| 21st Kom Chad Luek Awards | 2025 | Best Actress in Film | The Paradise of Thorns | Won | [38] |
| 21st Baannang Klang Lakorn Awards | 2025 | Best Actress in Leading Role | The Paradise of Thorns | Nominated | [39] |
| Kazz Awards | 2025 | People Of The Year | Won | [40] | |
| Thailand Y Content Awards | 2025 | Best Leading Actress | Nominated | [41] | |
| People's Choice Award | Nominated | [42] | |||
| Trust Gu Thai Film Awards | 2025 | Best Actress in Leading Role | The Paradise of Thorns | Nominated | [43] |
References
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External links
- Engfa Waraha at IMDb
