GOSSIP GIRL : Odette Henriette Jacqmin

GOSSIP GIRL

Few Thai celebrities have been the target of as many sordid rumors than model, singer and aspiring actress Odette Jacqmin. So what’s true then, and what’s not?

When Odette Henriette Jacqmin moved to Malaysia to be with her former boyfriend almost two years ago, gossipmongers had a feast. No longer around to defend herself, rumors about Odette that made the rounds bordered on the outrageous and absurd. But she’s back in town, single again, and adamant to set the record straight. As we sit down for lunch at Su Tha Ros, the upscale Thai restaurant of newly-opened Hotel Muse Bangkok – Odette flew in from Bali the previous night where she’d been on a short break with a bunch of friends – it’s evident that this is going to be a no-holdsbarred interview. “I want people to know me for who I really am,” Odette says as she digs into the Yum Som O Goong. “I am tired of all the gossip.” So she’s ready to answer any questions we have for her, openly and honestly.

TRUE OR FALSE

Rumor has it…

… that you’re a party girl; that you used drugs and had a booze problem.

Half true. [laughs] I enjoy going out, meeting people and having a social life. I like to have fun, but don’t enjoy getting wasted. I go to a lot of events, and upload these pictures on Facebook and Twitter. So maybe that’s why people think, “Oh my God she’s gone out again!” But socializing is part of my work – if I don’t go out people don’t see me. Drugs? I’ve heard that rumor since I was 18, and it’s not just about me. I think if you’re a celebrity the drug rumors come with the territory. Booze problem? Well, I’ll admit to drinking heavily when I was in Malaysia because I was homesick and miserable. I know that’s no excuse [to drink], but it’s the truth. Now that I’m back in Thailand I don’t have a reason to drink anymore. I didn’t have to go to rehab either. My hands don’t shake when I don’t have a drink.

… that you’re a diva and very difficult to work with.

That used to be true. When I started working I was always late; I was 18 and didn’t grasp the concept of ‘responsibility’. I just went with whatever mood I was in. If I felt like working I’d show up. If I didn’t, well, then I wouldn’t go. I got banned for a year from doing catwalk work in Thailand, but it wasn’t because I was partying too hard. I was a spoilt kid. But not anymore, I’m not 18 years old anymore. I’m 28 now. But I guess once you have a certain reputation it’s always going to stick with you – you can’t get rid of it so easily. I did those things when I was young, so I have to take responsibility for it.

… that you moved to Malaysia because nobody wanted to work with you here in Thailand.

False. I moved to Malaysia to be with my ex-boyfriend, who is based in Kuala Lumpur. We were going to get married, start a family. But it was a mistake – we jumped into the relationship too fast; plus, I thought I could live anywhere in the world.

… that you worked as a prostitute in Malaysia.

So false! I dropped down on the floor and cried when I heard that…It was so painful I thought I was going to die. The rumor started with an online column, and I don’t know who’s behind it. I have no clue what I’ve ever done to them to deserve this. They also claimed that I was pregnant, that I had an abortion, and that my ex boyfriend was a ‘fake rich person’ who ripped me off. It’s just horrible! I have never been pregnant. I love children and will never have an abortion if I discovered that I’m pregnant. I was never with my ex-boyfriend because he was rich. Another recent rumor is that I am HIV+. It’s just ridiculous!

… that you’re seeing Paradorn (Srichaphan) again.

False. It’s quite funny because I haven’t seen him since I’ve been back. We’re friends, and we will always be friends, but there’s zero chance of us ever getting back together.

… that you had a big fight with your former best friend and model Yo Yosawadee after borrowing 50,000 baht from her, and you said that you don’t consider Yo as a friend anymore

True and false. The story started six years ago when Yo and I used the same messenger. He would go around town running errands for us. One time he got me a simcard for my Blackberry. After I went to Malaysia I stopped using it, and totally forgot about it, which was my fault. They claim they couldn’t get hold of me while I was traveling [to pay the bill], so she ran to the press about it. But she could have contacted me through Facebook – there was no need to make such a big deal about it. Anyway, I’ve paid the money. I’m okay to work with her again and I respect her, but I wouldn’t say we are friends anymore.

… that you’re auditioning at the moment for a big role in a foreign movie production.

True. It’s an American film that will be shot here in Thailand. The role is playing the girlfriend of a Thai gangster, so I have to speak English very Thai-Thai, like “I love you long time.” The character is very loud and outspoken, which is easy for me because I’m quite bubbly. I only recently started acting and it’s quite fun.

THE INSIDE STORY

Why are people saying all these ugly things about you?

Honestly I have no idea. It’s really painful. I hope it will stop, because it’s killing me. My family and friends know it’s not true, but I worry about what people who don’t know me think. And yes, I do care what people think about me.

What did you do in Malaysia?

For the first year I did almost nothing, but then I got really bored. So I started working again; I did a few covers, a lot of catwalk work, photo shoots, and by the time I left Malaysia people started to recognize me. But I was miserable. I really missed Thailand. I missed home. My family, friends, my three dogs.

What has it been like to be back in Thailand?

My main priority has been to take care of my mom, who had a stroke and has been in hospital for the past three months since I’ve been back. She is like a two-year old baby; she cannot help herself, or even breathe by herself. When she gets better I will move on to the next step. [Subsequent to the interview with Odette, her mother passed away.]

What don’t people know about you? What are you really like?

I am very sincere and open. I don’t fake and I don’t lie. My family, my friends and my dogs mean the world to me. I’ve grown up. I’ve learned so much – the hard way. In Malaysia, I discovered a lot about myself; the direction I wanted to go with my life, that I wanted to be back in Thailand. The most important lesson I learned was not to jump into a relationship too fast. I’m seeing somebody at the moment, but we’re not dating officially yet. We’re going to take it slowly.

Oh, I also like cooking! My specialty is Thai cuisine. I have a website (www.chefdette.com) where I’ve uploaded some cooking videos. I used to dream about being a singer. Now I am one. I used to dream about being model. Now I’ve done that. I always wanted to be successful in life… I am still working on that. Mostly, I want to be a good person.

Odette’s career is managed by Angel & Bear Productions (www.angelandbearproductions.com).

BOUNCING BACK : PARADORN SRICHAPHAN (Part I)

BOUNCING BACK

IN AN EXCLUSIVE ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH 2MAGAZINE, PARADORN SRICHAPHAN OPENS UP ABOUT THE INJURY THAT ENDED HIS TENNIS CAREER, HIS DIVORCE FROM MISS UNIVERSE 2005 NATALIE GLEBOVA, AND HIS NEW-FOUND POLITICAL AMBITION. François Oosthuizen

Once called ‘Super Ball’ by fans and foes, former tennis ace Paradorn Srichaphan has a new agenda. He wants to use the experience and know-how garnered from a successful international career to make sports promotion a national priority in Thailand. And for that he needs your vote.

2magazine: If you could turn the clock back to 2003 when you won your first ATP-level singles title and were named one of the year’s ‘Asian Heroes’ by Time magazine, would you?

Paradorn: Yes, it would be great to enjoy it all again, because it felt like time flew by too fast. Thinking back to that, it is a great memory, and I enjoyed it very much – especially 2003, which was the peak of my tennis career. At that moment it felt like all my hard work had paid off. I was happy for myself, but happy also that I was able to make my country proud.

Is there anything you would have done differently with regard to your tennis career, given the chance?

I’ve asked myself this question many times… But I think I did the best I could do. So I wouldn’t change anything, no. Being a Buddhist I know everything happens for a reason, not only when it comes to my tennis career, but also other parts of my life. I always try to apply the lessons that I have learned in my life.

Do you ever reminisce about ‘the good old days’?

Actually I very recently started to think back about that time. I went through a pile of newspaper clippings of my tennis career that my family kept, watched some of the tapes [match recordings]. It felt good, and brought a smile to my face. I think it’s important in life to look back at good memories. It motivates us for the future…

What stands out as the biggest highlight –the proudest moment?

Winning was of course always great, but personally, the biggest moment for me was when I got a chance to meet the king [HRH King Bhumibol Adulyadej]. That was more rewarding for me than any big match that I won. The king used to play tennis himself, and told me that he is a big supporter of mine. That made me very, very proud, and I will never forget it.

Who was your toughest competitor ever on court?

There were a lot of good players out there –different player, different style. But the one I always knew was going to be a long game is Lleyton Hewitt. His game was very solid – he seldom missed a ball. I played him a couple of times, and it was always a tough match.

Is there a victory that was particularly sweet?

If there’s one match I could never forget, a match that gave me a lot of confidence and boosted my tennis career, it would be beating Andre Agassi at the second round of Wimbledon. The match was played on Center Court, and to this day it is my best tennis memory. It was a very special moment.

After becoming the most successful and highest seeded Asian tennis player at the time on the ATP circuit, then came 2007 and a serious wrist injury after which your professional tennis career never quite got back on track… Do you have regrets about how far you could have gone – had it not been for that injury?

I felt very disappointed at the time. I was only 28, and that’s quite young to retire from tennis. But injuries are sometimes unavoidable, and again, everything happens for a reason. Despite the injury I still hoped to recover well enough to be able to play for another three to five years, but I also started to get involved in other things I could do, like becoming a businessman and coaching other players.

How exactly did the injury happen?

I injured the wrist on my right hand, the hand I play with. I would say that it was the result of over-use. My game style was quite aggressive; I used to hit the ball really hard. Maybe I pushed myself too hard, maybe I didn’t allow enough time to rest betweentournaments.

You’re credited for inspiring a whole new generation of Thais (and Asians) to pick up tennis racquets, while your success led to a spike in popularity of the game in Thailand… How does that make you feel?

If I had any part of that, I feel very honored. Tennis wasn’t really popular in Thailand or Asia back then, and it felt great to be an idol for many kids. Their parents started supporting them to play tennis, or to do other sport – and that’s a good thing. Sport teaches kids to be disciplined and committed, and there are also the health benefits.

Has tennis – and the fame that it brought – changed you as a person? What are the most important lessons you’ve learned from it?

Tennis didn’t really change me; I still remain the same person I always was. Even once I had made a name for myself and people were starting to recognize me. In retrospect, I think I managed to control that very well. I am from a normal middle-class background, which meant having to work hard for everything that I wanted – especially using tennis to make a living. I always remained focused on my goals. I learned a lot from my father and brother, who coached me. It wasn’t always easy; they were my coaches, and also my father, brother…But they taught me how to be a good boy on court and off court – how to ‘walk the line’, how to always behave correctly.

The fame and fortune on Thai shores (and beyond) also meant that you became a household name… It could not have been easy to live up to all that pressure, attention and adoration?

In the beginning I didn’t think much about that; I just focused on practicing, traveled for tournaments, played my best, came back home, started practicing again – that was my routine. Then, when I started to realize how many people were showing an interest in the game, the impact hit me. The pressure was good to motivate me, I turned it into a positive, but it took some time to get used to all the attention.

How did the motorcycle accident happen in 2010 which finally led to your retirement from professional tennis?

Since a young age I’ve always been interested in motorbikes, especially super-bikes. Before the accident I had actually already decided not to play tournaments again, and I got involved with the Super-bike Thailand team. Of course it’s a dangerous sport, and I broke my left-wrist, my fingers, a toe…

How important is tennis in your life today?

I think in one lifetime we don’t need to do just one thing. My tennis career is over. I look back, I smile when I recall the good memories, but now I’m stepping into a new chapter of my life. I’m more looking forward to this than thinking about the past. But the experiences I had and the things I learned from tennis is something that could be transferred to my new chapter. Tennis was never the beginning or the end. It was a step along the way.

The Srichapan Tennis Academy you set up with your brother is reputed to be doing great work. What are your long-term ambitions for this endeavour?

The first Srichaphan Tennis Academy we opened is in my home-town in the northeast, Khon Kaen, and there are now two more facilities in and around Bangkok that concentrate on beginners. Khon Kaen is more like a camp; we have an apartment there, and six tennis courts. There are a lot of kids from the northeast who train for periods of up to three weeks, and some of them have also moved school to Khon Kaen in order to train there. We’ve also had groups from India and Indonesia.

Is the search on for the next Paradorn?

Oh yeah. We’re looking for players who can go professional. We have a couple of good players, but it will take time. It depends on how well we can support them. For example, sending them to train and compete in tournaments outside of Thailand. I also assist the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand as a coach of the national team. There is a lot of potential in Thailand, but there should be more kids playing to increase our chances. I try to draw on my own experiences, the difficulties I had turning pro. You need a sponsor to travel and compete internationally, so good support is key.

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Source : 2 Magazine June