Engfa Waraha

Early Life & Family

Born 1995 · Uthai Thani

Waraha was born in 1995 in Uthai Thani province, into a family of musicians — her father worked as a keyboardist and her mother sang luk thung, a style of Thai pop-country music.

In 2013, a year after her father's death, she met a master of the Thai blessing ceremony known as Phonraphee Maneethai (Thai: พระพิธี มณีไทย), who persuaded her to study officiating and traditional Thai verse singing (Thai: สวดเสภา) as a future career.

Music & Early Work

2015

A contract to help her family

At 17, as her father faced terminal cancer, Waraha signed a 12-year contract with Bangkok-based artist management agency Sangravee Entertainment. She released two singles this year, with two more to follow.

2016

Working before the spotlight

She released her remaining two singles under the contract. Before entering the national entertainment industry full-time, she also worked as a waitress, greengrocer, food vendor, caddie, and model.

2018

Becoming “Engfa Sangravee”

Waraha competed in the seventh season of the reality singing contest The Voice Thailand, becoming known by the stage name Engfa Sangravee. She was eliminated in the knockout round of the second phase.

Pageant Journey

2020

A first attempt, cut short

Waraha entered Miss Grand Suphanburi, a provincial preliminary for Miss Grand Thailand, but withdrew due to contractual problems.

2022

Miss Grand Bangkok, then Miss Grand Thailand

She returned to pageantry and won Miss Grand Bangkok 2022, then went on to win Miss Grand Thailand 2022, crowned at Show DC Hall, Bangkok, representing the capital.

2022

First runner-up, Miss Grand International

Waraha represented Thailand at Miss Grand International 2022, held in Bogor Regency, Indonesia, on 25 October, and finished as first runner-up.

Engfa Waraha, Miss Grand International 2022

Acting & Screen Career

2023

Acting debut — Show Me Love

Waraha made her acting debut in the drama TV series Show Me Love, playing the breakout role of Meena. The same year, she hosted her own talk segment, Hello Engfa, on the WE DO channel, and headlined her second solo concert, Engfa Mahachon 2, at MGI Hall, Show DC, Bangkok.

2024

Film debut — The Paradise of Thorns

Waraha made her film debut in The Paradise of Thorns (วิมานหนาม) as Mo Jongyoi — her breakthrough role. The film broke Thailand's 150-million-baht box office record and became the role that defined her acting career. The same year, she also starred as Rose in Bangkok Blossom and as Lieutenant Tul Chanwimol in the crime drama Petrichor.

2025

Cannes, and a growing filmography

Waraha starred as Ping in the television series The Tipsy Mystery. In May, she was honored at the Women in Cinema Gala, hosted by the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation during the Cannes Film Festival, where her upcoming film Lady Bee; a feminist reinterpretation of the Thai literary classic The Story of Jan Dara; was announced.

Engfa Waraha at Cannes Film Festival 2025

Awards & Accomplishments

Best Actress of the Year — Thailand Box Office Awards

2025, for The Paradise of Thorns.

Best Actress — Kom Chad Luek Awards

2025, for The Paradise of Thorns.

Best Actress of the Year — Nine Entertain Awards

2025.

Runner-up, Best Actress — 14th Thai Film Director Awards

2025, for The Paradise of Thorns.

Actress of the Year — Thairath Awards

2025, honored alongside recognition at the HOWE Awards.

Women in Cinema Honoree — Cannes Film Festival

2025, hosted by the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation.

Personal Life

Identity

Waraha has spoken publicly about being bisexual and has discussed relationships with people of more than one gender. Her openness has also sparked wider conversation about LGBTQ rights in Thailand.

Roots

She grew up immersed in music through her parents' careers, an influence that runs through both her singing and her path into public life.