AsiaLIFE

Cambodia has a one-of-a-kind princess in the form of radio talk show host and sports aficionado Norodom Soma. Following her return to Cambodia from the United States, Seth Emmanuel Rinoza turns the tables and puts the Royal under the spotlight. Photography by Dylan Walker.

As an accomplished journalist, sports commentator and actress, Princess Norodom Soma seems to have done it all. Having grown up in Long Beach, California, she earned a degree in telecommunications and a masters in mass communication before moving to Atlanta in 2006 and becoming an actress. Two years later, she diversified to work as a sports commentator for American talk show Ladies in the Locker Room. After returning to Cambodia in 2010 to take care of her ailing father, the Royal radio host at Pannasastra University opens up about her move back to the Kingdom.

What did it feel like to come back to your home country after many years of living overseas?

I was scared at first because I didn’t know the language or the culture. Growing up in the US at the age of five, I only knew English and American culture. I had to adjust quickly when I moved here in June 2010. My decision to come back to my homeland was because of my father. I wanted to fulfill his wish to come back home and to pass away in his homeland. My family, friends, love, and career were in the US and the toughest part was dealing with the emotional bonds with the people I am close with and leaving them. I would not have chosen to come back to Cambodia if it wasn’t for my father, but now I am thankful to have made this life-changing decision because I have embraced my country.

Tell us about your radio talk show?

With guidance from Dr Kol Pheng, founding father of Pannasastra University of Cambodia, I was given an opportunity to create the first English-speaking university radio talk show in the country. We profile successful people, have a lecture series on educational topics and address issues in Cambodia. I’ve interviewed all types of guest speakers ranging from business leaders and government officials to NGOs, university students, professors and celebrity entertainers. As long as you speak English and are doing something good for Cambodia, you can be on the show.

You used to be a sports commentator, what was that like?

That was my dream job in Atlanta, Georgia, as I love sports - especially professional basketball, football and tennis. We were an all-female sports talk show and I was the first Asian-American sports commentator in the country. CNN did a special report about the show. I reported on two SuperBowls in Florida and loved travelling throughout the southeastern region and being on television to talk about one of my passions. This was one of the things I had to leave behind when I made the decision to move to Cambodia.

I heard you were writing a book, what’s it about?

I am currently writing my father’s (Norodom Vatvani) memoir. He was a general in the Royal Air Force and loved the military so much. The book will highlight the decades in which he made an impact on the country of Cambodia. I feel I am just like him because he is known as the networking king and has so many friends who love him. He is also a caring and charitable person who has helped in building Cambodian communities in Long Beach, Seattle and Washington. I am also going to write about his life as a member of the Royal Family. I am only on chapter one, which starts with my experience going through dialysis treatment with my father here in Cambodia.

You are considered by many as one of the future women leaders of Cambodia, what does this responsibility entail?

A future leader’s responsibility entails being able to take risks, being compassionate and, most of all, being patient. As a woman, we have a hard time expressing ourselves but times are slowly changing and our voices can be heard and respected. I have always been independent in the US because of my upbringing and also American culture. I have been blessed to be educated in the US but it’s life experience which made me who I am today. I am not afraid to take risks. Life is about learning every day and if you skip a beat, then you are missing the true meaning of living.

Do you have any advice for young people who dream of helping their country?

I want young women and men to think outside the box. I teach my staff at PUC Radio Talk Show to always come up with new ideas and to take risks. Many of us are taught to do things a certain way and never think of other new ideas to make the task easier or faster. We are not robots and don’t work on assembly lines. For this country to prosper, grow and be competitive, we need to use our brains analytically.

What’s it like to be a Princess?

It doesn't feel like being Cinderella. It is nice to be called a princess, but getting the respect of doing something important for this country is worth more than a title.

Tune into Princess Norodom Soma’s PUC Radio Talk Show on 90.0FM daily from 7pm-8:30pm.