This
week’s profile is one of a girl that I have seen grow up over
the past seven years, so it was not the usual rushed hour of
interview. Talented, trilingual, trim, taught and terrific
describes young Daisy Vogt, the daughter we would all like to
have!
Daisy was born in Bad Kissingen in southern
Germany, a place she described as “an old people’s spa
town”; however, when you are 20 years old, anyone over 30 is
ancient! Her parents (Marion and Michael Vogt) were then in
hospitality industry (now well known as the guiding lights of Chiangmai
Mail).
She is an only child, which can have
advantages and disadvantages. “I was the only child on both
sides of my family - so I got spoiled accordingly.” However,
she went on to say, “The downside was that my parents used to
be very protective, and I had to live up to their expectations.
And I still do!” she said, raising her eyebrows!
After her first two years, her parents were
transferred to Africa, where she went to the local kindergarten
and learned ‘baby’ Swahili. She can still say “Hello”
with a Kenyan accent! However when she was five years old
Michael and Marion came to Pattaya, so “Jambo” was replaced
by “Sawadee Kha!”
After a few years in smaller schools she was
transferred to the International School of the Eastern Seaboard,
an institution that could help bring out the natural talent that
Daisy was already beginning to show. Following aptitude testing
she was put into 6th Grade, skipping one complete year. This
certainly showed academic prowess, but jumping grades is not
always such a good idea. “It bit me in the ass later,” said
Daisy, “as I graduated very early at age 17.” She went on to
say, “What was good was that the classes were so small, and I
was (already) a bit more mature (than the others).”
It had always been very noticeable as Daisy
grew up that she was mature, well beyond her years, and I asked
her if there was anything in her upbringing that she could
pinpoint as a reason for this. “My parents always tried to
keep us together as a family. This was difficult as they were
both in the hotel business, so they included me in their
activities and I think that helped me mature sooner.”
Being included in ‘adult’ activities,
with her parents attempting to maximize ‘family’ time
together, soon saw Daisy grow into a young lady who could hold
her own in the ‘adult’ world. “Sometimes it was kind of
hard at functions, but I was used to being around adults and it
was harder communicating with my own age group.”
I asked Daisy directly if she felt that
perhaps she had somehow missed out on being a child, to be met
with, “No, I don’t resent my childhood. My parents always
let me have fun. I went roller-blading and the like - but I
never got a puppy!” However, she explained that since they
lived in a hotel, no pets were allowed, even for the GM’s
daughter!
As she came to the end of her secondary
schooling, she was already fluent in Thai (and can read Thai),
fluent in English and in her parent’s native German. A certain
theatrical flair was also becoming evident and she was heavily
involved in drama and dance, jazz and ballet. That outgoing
ability led to her acting as the anchor girl for the local TV
channel when school proms were held, or even for international
sporting events, such as the World Windsurfing championships.
Her interest in windsurfing was not just as a
spectator. After expressing some interest, her parents gave her
an option. “I could either learn windsurfing or go to Germany
to learn ‘proper’ German.” Windsurfing won, and so did
Daisy, who these days has a room full of trophies she won on the
water.
Like us all, when school ended we were
supposed to know what we wanted to do for the future. Like most
of us, Daisy did not really know, and in fact admits that she is
still unsure of what she wants to do. She thought about going
overseas, but even for a mature 17 year old, that would be a
momentous step. Salvation, in some ways, came in a scholarship
to go to Assumption University (ABAC) to continue her studies.
This was based on her Grade Point Average. “I was the first
‘farang’ accepted,” said Daisy, making light of the fact
that her academic results were so good. She decided to study
Business Administration as her major, with a minor in
Advertising, and is now 12 months away from completing these
courses, though she is unsure of the career options that this
will give her.
However, Daisy Vogt has more than one special
talent. She had done some TV commercials, as a sort of follow-on
from her local Pattaya TV appearances. These paid a little money
and were a fun break from academic studies, but were to lead her
a little further into the field of modelling. Her mother saw
some information about the Elite Model Look Thailand 2004,
talent quest. This takes place in 65 countries with a huge final
later in the year. The conditions were that any applicant had to
be taller than 1.65. “I’m 1.70 so that qualified me,” said
Daisy. It is now a matter of record that Daisy went through all
the way to the Thailand final, finishing fourth and collecting a
two year contract from Elite.
So is the catwalk her future? Perhaps for a
short while, but Daisy has too many varied talents to just
become a clothes-horse. When I asked her about her aims, the
reply was simply, “I want to do everything!”
And if ever there was somebody who could do “everything”,
it is Daisy Vogt. Watch this space! In the meantime, her final
words were, “If anybody wants an intern in Event Management,
I’m available!”
