People can have different opinion regarding something, and the most common way to express those thoughts, is through the internet.
By hiding behind their screens, people think that they can freely say whatever they want, speaking about anything, from anywhere, at anytime.
And a female police officer from Thailand learned this the hard way, when she drew a lot of eyes with her sexy bikini photo by a swimming pool on social media.
Based on her looks, Lt. Patarasaya Rerkrut, aka Lt. Viking for her nickname, is unsurprisingly a spokesperson for the Royal Thai Police.
To many people, she's already an attractive young woman, with a slim figure, and a very Southeast Asian alluring appeal.
And by seeing her in a one-piece white bikini, she certainly attracted a lot of criticisms, lewd comments, and backlash.
Read: Cooking Influencer From Thailand Died While Livestreaming On Social Media
It all began one day after the photoshoot, where Lt. Viking appeared behind the microphone at a high-profile press briefing to report the crime of alleged violent Thitisan “Joe Ferrari” Utthanaphon, the police chief accused of torturing and murdering a suspect in his custody.
Soon after she reported the assets and the luxurious lifestyle of Joe Ferrari, the public quickly commented about her social media post.
For certain, the lieutenant is then publicized by various news media, with some calling the her the beauty to gush over.
In some of the articles, news about her bikini photos are even more popular than her professional work at the force.
While her swimsuit wear received praises by many Thai citizens, others simply think that it's inappropriate for her, who is a member of the police force, to appear too feminine, "weak," and thus, sexualized.
Whereas many in the police force certainly raised their eyebrows, or even admired her, Lt. Viking has to fight the barrage of hateful comments on the post she made.
Many of the scornful comments said that as a police officer, she is "behaving inappropriately" and that doing the pose with the bikini is deemed "disrespectful."
"I like to try new things, get out of [my] comfort zone, finding new opportunities for myself," she wrote on Instagram.
"I never thought I would become a cop, and cut off my personality for things I like in order to fit in a society that dictates how you should act."
She explained that she posed in the one-piece white swimsuit for a contest that ultimately never took place. She said the photo was just her way of challenging stereotypes while expressing herself.
Lt. Viking knows it well that she lives in a country where many people in the society are still conservative.
This is where she tried pointing out that there is nothing wrong with the poolside photos.
"Hello, it’s 2022," she continued.
"What we do in our work does not reflect with how we look. I grew up in a conservative society, but believe that there should be a balance. My parents are accepting and find it okay."
The lieutenant who is fluent in three languages, including English and Chinese, swiftly made her Instagram private after telling netizens to get over it.
She also set her Facebook account to private.
At this time, Lt. Patarasaya Rerkrut, besides being spokesperson for the Royal Thai Police, also doubles as an investigator at the Don Mueang Police Station.
She was once awarded a scholarship in Taiwan to study, and has her own YouTube channel, where she showcases one of her other talents
Thailand, located in the eastern hemisphere, is among the strictest places on Earth.
And this time, the lieutenant is just another woman who managed to captivate the nation.
Just before this, a Thai YouTuber fled her country because her sex tapes were leaked, and a year before that, a Thai OnlyFans content creator was arrested for distributing adult content.
Further reading: A Café In Thailand Closed After Owner Tried To Sell A Toilet Seat Used By Lisa From Blackpink
