Bui Simon (born Porntip Nakhirunkanok (Thai: ภรณ์ทิพย์ นาคหิรัญกนก; RTGS: Phonthip Nakhirankanok; pronounced [pʰɔ̄ːn.tʰíp nâːk.hì.rān.kā.nòk]); February 7, 1969) is a Thai philanthropist and beauty queen who won Miss Universe 1988. Simon is president and founder of the Angels Wings Foundation.^[3] She is on the Board of Regents of Pepperdine University, the Board of the Children's Museum of Indianapolis as a Distinguished Advisor and also is on the Board of Governors for the Dream Foundation.

Biography

Porntip Nakhirunkanok was born in Bangkok, Thailand. Her nickname is "Bui" (Thai: ปุ๋ย, RTGS: Pui, pronounced [pǔj]), which is her preferred name. It means "to sleep like a baby" in Thai.^{[citation needed]} In the early 70's, she was brought to the United States by her family. She attended Washington Irving Middle School and Franklin High School in Los Angeles. In August 1988, Nakhirunkanok was presented the Thai Royal Medal of Honour, Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, by King Bhumibol Adulyadej for her service in helping children in need. She received a second Royal Decoration in 2001, Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand.^{[citation needed]}

In 1989, she was named United Nations Goodwill Ambassador of Thailand by Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. As Goodwill Ambassador, she addressed the UN General Assembly concerning the Convention on the Rights of the Child. She graduated with a bachelor's degree psychology from Pepperdine University.^[4]

In 2002, she married Herbert Simon, an American businessman who is the owner of the Indiana Pacers basketball team and Simon Property Group.

Pageantry

In 1983, at the age of 15, Simon took part in the Miss California Teen USA where she was placed first runner-up. Upon her return to Thailand, she participated in the 1988 Miss Thailand pageant held in Bangkok where she won the right to represent Thailand at the Miss Universe pageant.

Aged 19, Simon was crowned as Miss Universe 1988 by outgoing titleholder Cecilia Bolocco on May 24, 1988, in Taipei, Taiwan. She became the second Thai woman to win the title after Apasra Hongsakula who won Miss Universe 1965.^[3] Simon became the first woman ever to win both the Miss Universe and Best National Costume award in one pageant. At the time of Miss Universe 1988, Simon weighed 114 pounds (52 kg), and stood at 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m).^[3] Simon crowned her successor, Angela Visser of the Netherlands, at Miss Universe 1989 in Cancun, Mexico.