It is easy to see why Win Metawin Opas-iamkajorn is a star, both in the fields of entertainment as well as fashion. Our February 2023 cover subject has an arresting presence in real life, thanks to the combination of cut-glass cheekbones, flawless complexion, imposing 1.85m height, and an easy confidence that stems from being at ease in his own skin. It’s perhaps why Win, 24, is the first ever Thai global ambassador for Prada. “I love the brand and I’m still amazed I get to work with them.”
Together with fellow Thai celebrities like Blackpink’s Lisa, and his F4 Thailand co-star Bright, Win is paving the way for a new generation of Thai stars who are going global. His burgeoning influence is undeniable (he has 15 million following his Instagram account @winmetawin), yet the actor sounds a little star-struck himself when he mentions how thrilled he was to rub shoulders with celebrities he admires. “I never dreamed that one day I would get to meet artists that I follow and listen to almost every day like [Grammy-winning R&B singer] Daniel Caesar,” he says.
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The Singapore fans were so energetic and powerful that they gave energy to us on stage. We could feel it.
Fresh off the Singapore leg of the “Shooting Star Asia Tour” the night before this shoot, Win talks fondly about the F4 Thailand cast feeding off their fans’ passion. “The Singapore fans were so energetic and powerful that they gave energy to us on stage. We could feel it,” he says. “When we take pictures after the show, we can see how the fans from each country behave, and each country has its own interesting points,” he remarks, observing that the fans here are very polite and respectful. He also shares that meeting and connecting with fans on stage for the first time was special, as he’s read all their comments and posts online. The fan meet doubled as a concert, with the cast performing as a group and solo. Win sang his latest Thai-language single “One More Chance”.
Singing is something he started pursuing in earnest last year. He raves, “I love it. Because it lets you be almost 100 percent yourself.” He relishes the fact that as a singer, he has greater say over the songwriting and production process, from picking the genre to how he wants to express himself as a performer. In comparison, acting is more of a collaborative process. But in F4 Thailand, it was made easier by the fact that the cast became friends in real life, and had a lot of fun filming together. Win initially found it hard to get inside the head of Kavin, the playboy heir of a powerful and rich family. “Kavin is pretty different from me. He doesn’t take love seriously, because he has had his heart broken before, so he flirts with every girl. It was hard for me to create the character.” He shares that he studies with an acting coach, workshopping and creating the background of his characters as part and parcel of delving into a role, even if these details are not in the script. Never one to rest on his laurels, Win says, “The challenge is creating a character that is totally different from me, and from the ones that I have played before.”
Photographed by Zhang Minhua and Jeremy Kieran / Telescope Studios
Creative direction by Windy Aulia
Styled by Gracia Phang
Producer: Navin Pillay
Makeup: Pornpichit Khum-Nguen and Yothin Chuaysri
Hair: Thanupol Phoothepamornkul and Akkarapong Punkaew
Photographer’s assistant: Leonard Wong
Stylist’s assistant: Brandon Chia
Floral Design: Lilac Summers
Fashion: Prada
Jewellery: FRED
