Soma Norodom's Blog

Soma's niece helping her get ready for the photoshoot

Soma with N.M. Sisowath Sieng Dy, her advisor for royal protocols, taking a break from the photoshoot. The picture above is of Soma's great uncle, former King, Norodom Sihanouk with Jacqueline Kennedy O'Nassis

Soma's uncle, Prince Sisowath Sirirath, reading her story in the December 2011 issue of AsiaLIFE

Soma's cousin, Bijou, and Soma getting ready for the casual/style wear photoshoot

Soma, Bijou, and Nikko looking stylish as they are the young generations of Cambodia's Royal Family

Soma-1 of 6 pages in the cover feature story about the Lifestyles of Young Royals in Cambodia

Ringing in the New Year, 2012, with style and class, and on the front cover of AsiaLIFE magazine

The most popular and reputable English language magazine in Cambodia is AsiaLIFE, a monthly lifestyle magazine, which is distributed throughout Phnom Penh, and in other provinces. It is the essential guide to life in Cambodia, at no charge. Last month I was honored to be featured in their Q & A section, and received positive feedbacks via texts and emails the first day the magazine came out.

On January 2nd, the first issue of 2012 arrived, and profiled my cousins and I as the cover story. I received an email from a friend stating, “Hey, I saw you on the cover of AsiaLIFE! Young and Royal! Good shot.” Of all the days that the cook and driver had to be gone (they went to a wedding), was the day that the magazine was hot off the press, and I couldn’t get my hands on one. But I had Mariam pick up a few, one for my father, and one for me.

To be featured in a magazine is an honor, and to be on the cover of the premier magazine in the country, it’s surreal. Just looking at my father’s expression when he received the magazine the following day during dialysis, was priceless. Yes, he was proud of me again, and you could see it in his eyes. When I saw the magazine I was speechless. Andy Brouwer, Blogger, Author, and Writer, texted me and said that the cover is, “Very posh.”

The photoshoot was held at Raffles Hotel Le Royal on December 17, 2011. The hotel is located in the heart of Phnom Penh, and was first established in 1929, with clienteles ranging from backpackers, journalists, to distinguished royalty. This grand historic hotel has undergone restoration and refurbishment, and now fulfills all the requirements of a modern world-class hotel.

Travel & Leisure magazine rated it as the “Top 50 Hotels in Asia, World’s Best Awards”, from 2006-2008, as well as “Award of Excellence”-Wine Spectator Award in 2007. Exuding an old world charm through its distinctive style, the art director and photo editor decided that Raffles would be the location for the cover shot of the January 2012 issue.

My cousins, Nikko and Bijou, who are my uncle, Prince Sisowath Sirirath kids, participated in the photoshoot. Uncle Nan, as I call him, was a proud papa and uncle, as he was beaming with joy throughout the entire shoot. My other cousins, Sisowath Vic, Norodom Narithipong and his wife, Ermine, and Sisowath Chivannariddh and his wife, Phala, were also interviewed.

The cover story focuses on the lifestyles of young royals in Cambodia. Interviewed by Michael Sloan, the story profiles our current status in Cambodia and our ambitions and attitudes towards the Cambodian monarchy, both as a family and an institution. Less than 30 countries in the world represents kingdoms and monarchs, and Cambodia is one of them.

Managing Editor, Ellie Dyer, stated in her editorial, “We’ve also talked to some of the most respected people in Cambodian society, members of the royal family, about their lives in Cambodia, the palace, and abroad. In a country with such rich history and traditions, their views provide a wonderful insight into life at the heart of the Kingdom.”

Arlene, my friend and consultant, and my cousin, Bong La (who made the red dress), and her daughter were also present at the photoshoot. Bong La also made the gold dress for my photoshoot at the Royal Palace, which was featured in the July 2011 issue of Southeast Asia Globe magazine.

We were asked to bring 2 outfits; one formal and one representing our style and personality. The gold belt for my formal attire was not finished. My niece helped me get dressed as my cousin sewed the belt onto the dress, and Arlene took pictures of this momentous occasion, and also re-curled my hair, as the hairstylist did not do a good job earlier. This was a team effort, and Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, would agree that “it takes a village” to make me look pretty.

The photoshoot took about 3 hours, and I was ready to get some food in my stomach. I didn’t eat the night before and earlier that morning, as a few pounds can make a difference in a photo. Can you imagine doing this fulltime? I couldn’t do it, since I would have to give up food, especially delicious, high calorie food.

AsiaLIFE magazine was distributed throughout hotels, coffee shops, cafes and restaurants in Phnom Penh. A grand portrait of Her Royal Highness Norodom Buppha Devi, Cambodia’s most legendary classical dancer, daughter of former King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk, half sister of current King of Cambodia, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, mother of Sisowath Vic, as well as our beautiful aunt, provided a majestic backdrop for the shot.

Special thanks to Ellie Dyer, Managing Editor, April Hunt, Art Director/Designer, Michael Sloan, Writer, and Dylan Walker, Photo Editor, for an opportunity to be a cover model. But most important of all, listening to what we have to say, as we represent the young generations of the Royal Family, the Norodoms and the Sisowaths, and will likely carry on the tradition of the royal monarchy in Cambodia.