Apo Nattawin and Mile Phakphum: Thai Supernovas

From Thailand to the world

‘Apo’ Nattawin Wattanagitiphat and ‘Mile’ Phakphum Romsaithong, two of Thailand’s brightest stars, are ushering in a new kind of masculinity.

It’s one that considers vulnerability and emotional depth as strengths, on and off-screen. It goes beyond Apo and Mile’s convincing portrayals of complex characters and the nuanced relationships between men; it’s also how they treat each other with respect and sincerity as they’ve evolved from acquaintances to brothers in the entertainment industry—and in life.

Their masculinity is measured by grit to persevere in a highly competitive creative scene, trusting the process when things get challenging, and nurturing career-altering opportunities when they present themselves.

It’s also that openness to new or alternative paths when life takes you in a different direction, whether it was previously considered or not.

It is also likewise expressed through striking visuals and impeccable style—a heightened attention to aesthetics and detail that goes beyond vanity and frivolity. It is the understanding that a meticulous sense of self-care and presentation is an asset to nurture, even beyond an industry largely defined by image.

To consider Apo and Mile as pretty boys isn’t inaccurate, but rather lacking in depth after a few years have gone by in their careers—now, they’re grown men redefining masculinity in their own terms: soft yet tough, vulnerable yet commanding, and carefree yet intentional.

It took several years of brief intersections and divergent journeys before Apo and Mile became the cultural forces they are today. They were born two years apart—Mile in 1992 and Apo in 1994—in separate provinces outside of Bangkok, and only moving to the capital city for further study. Nevertheless, they crossed paths again in a fashion show, where the two worked as rookie models.

Apo eventually ventured into acting, debuting in the acclaimed TV melodrama series, Sud Kaen Saen Rak, a story of love and hatred between two families across generations. He continued starring as lead and support in several Thai soap operas.

After this, Apo went on a hiatus, flying to New York to explore life outside of acting. He waited tables and became a bartender—something that came in handy when he eventually portrayed the role—before returning to Thailand amid the global pandemic. It was during this time that he realized how much he missed acting, prompting him to prepare for an eventual comeback.

Meanwhile, Mile established his roots in music. He worked as a DJ for a Thai radio station, joined a reality singing competition, released a few singles, and appeared in music videos for other artists. Acting wasn’t his first choice—beyond music, Mile had shared in previous interviews that business and entrepreneurship initially intrigued him. Luckily, he didn’t close the door entirely, appearing in a few local TV dramas.

Their paths finally brought them together again, and this time, their lives intertwined and sparked a global cultural movement. Later on, it was announced that Apo and Mile would play the lead roles in the action-romance series KinnPorsche.

The show follows mafia heir, Kinn (Mile), who was saved by a local bartender and underground fighter, Porsche (Apo), while he was a victim of an assassination attempt. Astounded by his fighting skills, Kinn convinces Porsche to be his full-time bodyguard; later on, tensions rise as they descend deeper into danger while feelings develop between the two.

After production delays caused by the pandemic, KinnPorsche debuted on local Thai television and several streaming platforms in 2022.

The series flipped the script by combining action-packed scenes and crime motifs with emotional depth. Before KinnPorsche, most boys’ love stories revolved around coming-of-age and schoolboy themes, which were wildly popular when the genre boomed in the mid-2010s.

However, Apo and Mile set a new bar by portraying complex characters who were more than just their desires or sexuality, panning out in a cinematically filmed show that married grit with the intricacies of romance. It has since redefined the standards and expectations for shows in the same genre.

KinnPorsche’s impact transcended platforms and borders. Every episode caused a stir on social media, and the show gained mainstream popularity even in the West and Latin America. This led Apo and Mile to embark on a world tour—the first of its kind among the leading Thai boys’ love dramas. In 2023, the two successfully ventured on their first movie project together: ManSuang, which again pushed the boundaries of storytelling by combining elements of traditional Thai performance and history with a queer angle.

Such was the scale of the reception that the Thai government, especially the ministries of culture and tourism, took note of ‘boys’ love’ as a ‘soft cultural power’ akin to South Korea’s K-pop and Japan’s animé, investing more resources in the production of such television shows.

The phenomenon also did not escape the eyes of the fashion world. As Apo and Mile rose to greater prominence, ambassadorships and partnerships for global luxury brands followed, further boosting an emerging movement where Thai actors were beginning to be tapped for international partnerships.

To this day, the two continue to lead the momentum in marking Thailand on the map. But astoundingly so, Apo humbly refers to himself as someone who’s simply putting in the work.

“If someone asks whether I’m a representative of [Southeast Asian] style and culture, I owe that title to the people who believe in me. I feel like I’m just doing the work I’m meant to do. For instance, when I travel abroad for Fashion Week, I’m there to present the clothes professionally. My intention is not to represent anyone; I’m just there to do my job.”

Despite his humble and grounded attitude, Apo takes pride in being Thai and cherishes the opportunity and responsibility to share his culture with the world.

He notes how Thailand’s meticulous attention to detail, from music, craftsmanship, to architecture, underscores their people’s artistry to put out work that is filled with intention.

“Visitors to Thailand often remark that it is one of the most stunning places on Earth. Growing up here, I have had the privilege of experiencing this beauty firsthand, and I’ve never grown tired of it,” he adds.

Mile also shares Apo’s sense of humility and cultural pride. “I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself a representative, but I’d be honored to be [considered as such]. The opportunity to communicate with others—whether through acting or other forms of work—is a gift. Southeast Asia, including Thailand, is rich with incredible culture. I genuinely believe that if people outside the region experience it, they’ll fall in love with it.” Which is justifiable, after all, it is through living in Thailand that Mile has been able to nurture his artistic spirit.

It’s this keen sense of sensitivity to culture and creativity that allows Apo and Mile to enjoy styling themselves and picking up sartorial pointers as they grace shows globally.

“For me, the most significant style change has been the increase in the diversity of my outfits in function and practicality. However, I also always try to stay true to my character,” Mile says. Like most millennials, Instagram and Pinterest are his seas of inspiration, and he frequently surfs on them. But if he were to single out a style icon, it would be—and quite fitting for a music lover—Alex Turner, the lead vocalist of English rock band Arctic Monkeys.

“His style resonates with my taste. Still, it’s hard to choose just one person because, to me, fashion is about variety and fun. But what makes Alex an icon for me is how music intertwines with his fashion, adding edge and authenticity.”

Meanwhile, Apo’s style icon is someone who hits close to home: himself. “In my mind, others aren’t me, and I’m not them. If I imitate someone else’s style, it won’t translate the same way. It will misrepresent me because their physicality and attitude differ from mine. It’s more important to embrace who we are, but we can also explore various styles and think, ‘Oh, that exists?’ and then adapt them to suit ourselves,” Apo adds. 

“In the past, I used to dress according to my mood. If I felt playful, I wore fun clothes; if I felt serious, I chose something more tailored. Sometimes, I mixed both styles. Nowadays, it’s not just about wanting to wear certain clothes. It’s more about expressing who I am as Apo. It represents someone serious about life, but also knows how to have fun within that seriousness.”

Apo’s insight is fitting to describe how they both approach their duties as global brand ambassadors. Astounding power and responsibility lie behind the warm smiles and radiant presence they exude as they face legions of fans, the press, and the controlled chaos of fashion events.

In terms of earned media value (EMV), a metric that approximates the monetary worth of unpaid brand mentions and coverage, Apo and Mile ranked third and fourth, respectively, among the Asian stars that graced Paris Men’s Fashion Week 2025, with a combined EMV of $24.64 million. The magnitude of this number not only highlights how their presence is a game-changer for brands but also how anything that they represent or stand by gets signal-boosted to global prominence, simply by association.

In January 2024, Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and Be On Cloud, Apo and Mile’s agency, announced that the duo would reunite for a new show named Shine. However, the official trailer was only released in July 2025. The show takes place between 1969—the year of the Moon landing, which is part of the opening sequence of the first episode—and 1971, a period of emotional, political, and cultural upheavals in Thailand.

Apo plays Trin, a principled and idealistic economist who returned to Thailand after graduating from France; on the flip side, Mile plays—and appropriately so—Tanwa, a free-spirited musician who fronts the band Moonshine. The two characters couldn’t be any more different, but they eventually gravitate toward one another amid the chaos of the period.

Shine premiered on August 2, 2025, to global acclaim, with fans praising the themes, cinematography, and on-screen chemistry of Apo and Mile. The show’s boldness in tackling more socially and politically relevant ideas while articulating queer romance is a clear offshoot of what the two have established with KinnPorsche.

Their choice to reunite for a project of this scale and nature tells you one thing: with their body of work and their approach to culture and style, they are the best representations of a modern kind of masculinity—one that is rooted in tradition, yet unafraid to move forward with an open mind; one that sees strength in vulnerability; and one that isn’t bound to just a singular definition of success.

The way they chose to portray and believe in these roles tells you that these nuanced and reimagined characterizations of men are still worth breathing life into. Though Trin and Tanwa are characters from half a century ago, Apo and Mile believe that their stories, convictions, and desires are worthy of your time to watch and learn some of the love and life lessons from them.

And these claims seem not to be unfounded.

On August 16, just three episodes in, Shine won several accolades from the Weibo Gala 2025, the ‘Oscars of Asia’ that gathers the region’s brightest stars and acts for a night of deepening cultural ties through entertainment and the arts. Apo won the Weibo Thailand Most Outstanding Actor award, while Mile was named the Weibo Gala 2025 Role Model Actor. Also, Pond Krisda, CEO & Director of Be On Cloud, was recognized as the Best TV Drama Director.

If this midway victory is telling us anything, these two stars will continue to shine brighter. Apo and Mile will continue to light the way for Southeast Asian men toward ascendance and showcase a renewed vision of masculinity—one that is unapologetic in its vulnerability, depth, and penchant for style.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Bangkok’s supernovas: Apo Nattawin and Mile Phakphum.

Read more via VMAN SEA Digital Access, or order your copy of VMAN Southeast Asia Volume 04: The Modern Masculinity Issue now via these links: APO COVER / MILE COVER.

Photography Pobprut Wongpuckdee 

Chief of Editorial Content Patrick Ty

Creative direction Mike Miguel and Vince Uy 

Fashion Rex Atienza and Mile Supakasem

Grooming Pakanat Poolsawat 

Hair Pinyo Litaisong 

Fashion assistants Nitcharat Ajchariyapotha,

Thitigorn Homhual and Corven Uy 

Special thanks Na-adia Isa Umar, Tharinya Kaewruang, Hannah Pischedda, and Supaluck Mahasupanphong of Be On Cloud and Philippine Airlines