Meet Milli, Coachella’s first Thai solo artist: the 19-year-old rapper loves BTS, wants to collab with Rihanna, and got in trouble with Thailand’s PM
- The first solo Thai artist to appear at Coachella, Milli is also a fan of K-pop groups BTS and Stray Kids – often retweeting Jimin’s fan accounts
- Last year she faced charges from the Thai government for criticising their pandemic response, but she also just sent sales of mango sticky rice soaring in the country
If tweets from Thai politicians and music fans are anything to go by, 19-year-old rapper Milli might just be key to a Thai bid for soft power.
The musician dominated headlines after her recent performance at Coachella. Partly because she’s the first Thai solo artist to perform at the festival, partly because she wowed the crowd with her explosive performance – but a Thai dessert had something to do with it, too. Milli ate a bowl of mango sticky rice as she finished her set, hyping the audience by shouting: “Who wants mango and rice that is sticky?”
The effect was immediate. Orders more than tripled on food apps and the Thai government talked of adding the dish to UNESCO’s heritage list.
Beloved desserts aside, Milli is no stranger to going viral, thanks to her talent and larger-than-life personality. Here’s what we know about the rising star.
She used to be student council president
In 2019, then-16-year-old Milli, whose real name is Danupha Khanatheerakul, joined Thai TV programme The Rapper 2. Pimthai Lohakupta, who directed the show, told WorkpointToday that the former student council president showed up for her audition in her school uniform after coming straight from her classes.
Her skills needed honing, but Milli’s star quality was undeniable, even in the thick glasses and school uniform she wore. “Milli has always been energetic. When someone listens or watches her show, they can feel the energy that she exudes. She expresses what she believes in with determination,” added Lohakupta.
She’s known for rebellious and often controversial lyrics
