Bright Vachirawit And Jimin Are Harper's BAZAAR Singapore's February 2024 Cover Stars
Editor-in-Chief Kenneth Goh dissects the passion of stars at the top of their game, starring the sensational duo on the cover.
We are just two weeks into 2024 and I’m already on my first work trip abroad. I’m at my work desk on the 80th floor of the Ritz Carlton in Melbourne. If all work desks could be like this, I would be extremely happy. Picture, if you will, a magnificent bird’s eye view over the Yarra river and a city that stretches as far as the eye can see. I’m a little blurry eyed from two late nights of tennis finals at The Australian Open. Saturday night saw the women’s singles battle of Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen, which the former won easily in two straight sets. Last night was an epic battle in the men’s singles—Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner—which the latter won in five thrilling sets.
I’m here at the invitation of Louis Vuitton, who sponsored the trunks that house both the men’s and women’s cups. It’s incredible how fashion has latched onto the power of sports and the audiences that follow it. Carlos Alcaraz and Naomi Osaka are both tennis players with enormous followings and are well loved by their millions of fans. Both are Louis Vuitton ambassadors. Sports and fashion are even more intertwined with the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. The idea of performance, perfection and surpassing yourself are inspirational themes that draw intense emotions, not just from the athletes, but also the audiences that watch them. This gives rise to an emotional connection between players and the fans. Brands want to take advantage of this natural desirability when emotions are at their peak.
Related article: Bright Vachirawit’s Next Steps
Music and fashion share that space too. Pop stars and actors are not made overnight. They train for years, spending hours performing and honing their craft, while ensuring their every gyration is smooth and every strand of hair gelled just so. The entire package takes years of hard toil to develop. And like sports, there’s no guarantee they will win. This month’s special dual cover of Jimin of BTS and Bright Vachirawit showcase two pop idols at the top of their game. With fans around the globe watching their every move on stage or tear-jerking performance on the big screen (in the case of Bright), intense emotions are brought to the fore. What more if their favourite idols are dressed in sparkling Tiffany jewels or chic Burberry?
Related article: BTS’ Jimin On Going Solo, Navigating Fame And The Generosity Of ARMY
See Jimin glisten on page 110 where he speaks candidly about his ups and downs, and his life in front of the camera. Bright, a Thai celebrity whom we adore at BAZAAR, has appeared numerous times on our covers. The Singapore fans can’t get enough of this talented, multi-hyphenate. With his newest venture in creating his own company, Cloud 9 Entertainment, he wants to push Thai stars onto a global platform. Turn to page 73 to see Bright languidly dressed in the best of Burberry.
And while this special issue celebrates the boys we love, we can never forget about the fashion. Turn to page 38 to read about the best trends to look out for in the coming months. Whether it’s the brightest hue of red, the shortest of shorts, or strategic cut-outs in all the right places, we’ll have you looking your best always. Game. Set. And always matched.
—Kenneth Goh, Editor-in-Chief
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February 2024 Cover Featuring Bright Vachirawit
Photographer: John Tods
Stylist: Jeffrey Yan
Fashion: Burberry
Grooming: Pornpichit Khumngen
Hair: Thanupol Phoothepamornkul
Producer: Nina Simpson
Set Designer: Anakpong Suwannaput
Photographer’s Assistants: Audomsak Aemausin, Narong Tharveeyart, Wanlop Banchuen
Stylist's Assistants: Phi Ritwiwat, Patipan Limsuwash
Interview and Translation: Samila Wenin
February 2024 Cover Featuring Jimin
Photographer: Janghyun Hong
Stylist: Youngjin Kim
Fashion: Dior
Jewellery: Tiffany & Co.
Makeup: Hansom / Bit & Boot
Hair: Dareum Kim
Coordination: Shinhae Song / Tano International
Translation: Madoka Noda
Story: Aoko Matsuda