Mogok Pauk Pauk

Pauk Pauk grew up in Mogok, Mandalay Region, Myanmar. Even though Mogok Pauk Pauk was born a boy, she loved to dress up in clothes for girls and wear makeup and she helped her mother with the family hairdressing business. She became the target of scorn and bullying because of her feminine interests, but she didn’t let that stop her.

In 2011, she has specialised in fashion design. Under the brand "Mogok Pauk Pauk: Haute Couture", she produces Myanmar traditional wedding dresses, gowns, evening wear and cocktail wear. In 2013, she launched the ready-to-wear brand Chic Pauk, which continues to thrive in its niche market.

In 2006, she moved to Milan, Italy to attend design classes at the Burgo Fashion and Design Institute. In Milan, she developed her talent as a fashion designer and After 18 months she returned to her homeland, her creations started to attract attention. and confecting traditional robes, gowns and evening dress for actresses, jewellery models, cosmetics fairs and magazine photo shoots.

In 1968, aged 15, she started as a makeup artist. She was aged 16, she straight out of school and dedicated herself to her work full-time. She was already a very sought after makeup artist for brides and traditional dancers in Mandalay and Mogok. At the age of 17, she was beginning to live as a woman and develop a philosophy that could counter any hate for the LGBT community. In 1988, she moved to Yangon from her hometown Mogok to work in the movie industry with her teacher Sandy, a costumier for actress Moht Moht Myint Aung. That's where she learned tailoring. Between Yangon and Mogok, she dedicated her time to both makeup and dressmaking, especially for brides. She has flourished as a fashion designer since 2000.