Pageant winner Amanda Chalisa Obdam was dismissed as Thailand’s Ambassador of Mental Health Awareness after just five days on Tuesday, after she faced public criticism for questioning the police response to recent protests.
“Our goal is to promote happiness and joy among all Thai citizens, and we have always prioritized your feedback,” the Department of Mental Health said. The department said it has received many complaints regarding its February 25 appointment of the 27-year old winner of Miss Universe Thailand 2020.
Many said Obdam was unfit for the ambassadorship because she publicly criticized the police for its role in the clashes with pro-democracy protesters on her Twitter account.
Many netizens, including former government officials, took to social media to argue that she was not a suitable representative of the Thai people.
“An honorary ambassador in any branch or organization must have a clear, scrupulous history and behavior that represents their country,” Narisroj Fuangrabil, former Thai ambassador to Argentina posted on Facebook on Monday.
“To appoint someone with a repeated history of controversial public sentiments… someone who lacks self-reflection and is not neutral, who spreads fake news and has denounced her own country – will inevitably cause a rift and conflict in society!”
Obdam is a Canadian-Thai beauty queen, model, and actress who won the Miss Universe Thailand pageant for Phuket in October. She founded Have You Listened, a foundation that aims to raise awareness of mental health and depression among Thais.
Thai Enquirer has reached out to Obdam for comments.