Thai fans of two of Southeast Asia’s most recognizable women were gushing today over their similarities.
The comments poured in almost as soon as former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had posted a photo last night of herself alongside Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, who just won Best Actress for the multiverse-hopping film Everything Everywhere All at Once.
“Congratulations to the success of the first Asian actor to win an oscar,” Yingluck wrote in English.
Thai fans gave her a pass on ignoring the award’s five previous Asian winners, and instead rushed to fill comments with heart emojis and point out how similar the two women looked.
“Which one is Michelle?” someone asked.
“Thank you P’Pu for coming to congratulate P’Pu,” read the top comment, referring to Yingluck by her nickname. The photo shows Yingluck, then the 44-year-old prime minister, posing with Yeoh, then 50, at the January 2012 Thai premiere of The Lady, which starred Yeoh.
“So Yingluck won the Oscar and Michelle Yeoh just came to congratulate her?” someone asked.
“If you add in Aung San Suu Kyi, you would have another twin for a total of three,” another comment read.
“The multiverse is real,” another mused.
Yingluck became prime minister after the Pheu Thai Party once led by her brother won decisively in the 2011 election. She served for three years until, like her brother, she was ousted by the military. On Sunday, Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian performer to win an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Perhaps in another universe, Yingluck is the movie star and Michelle Yeoh is living in exile after being driven from power in a coup d’etat.
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