For #LGBThistorymonth I will be posting an #lgbtq #womaninhistory every day. Today is Parinya Charoenphol aka Nong Toom, a Thai boxer, former Muay Thai champion, model and actress.

Nong Toom began her professional career as a 16 year old kathoey with a victory in Bangkok’s Lumpini Boxing Stadium which gained a lot of media attention both for herself and the sport. She made a name for herself with 20 wins and 18 TKOs before retiring to pursue acting and focus on her transition.

In 2006 she returned to boxing, although was unable to fight in Thailand due to her gender. In 2010, she retired once more and opened a boxing camp, Parinya Muay Thai, in Pranburi, Thailand. She currently teaches Muay Thai and aerobics to children at the Baan Poo Yai School. Her life story was told in the film Beautiful Boxer, which won national and international awards. Her story was also included in Julina Khusaini’s National Geographic documentary Hidden Genders (2003) and in the book Ladyboys: The Secret World of Thailand’s Third Gender.