Taekwondo star crowned Miss Thailand and hangs up her black belt

NEWLY-crowned Miss Thailand Pongchanok Kunklub has withdrawn for the national taekwondo squad for the Southeast Asian Games in Laos.

CAREER CHANGE: Pongchanok Kunklub has swapped her black belt for not a lot else 

But I'm not sure she has her priorities in order.

In what must have been a gut-wrenching decision, Pongchanok has chosen looks over left hooks and revealed her victory in last weekend's Miss Thailand pageant has forced her to consider her future.

The 18-year-old Bangkok beauty has now qualified to represent Thailand at the Miss World 2009 contest in Johannesburg on December 12, while the SEA Games are scheduled for December 9-18, leaving Pongchanok in a quandary.

But it did not take her long for her mind.

"It's been difficult to choose between the two paths that have opened up for me," Pongchanok told Thailand's Daily Xpress.

"Though I'm passionate about taekwondo I have decided to devote myself to my duties as Miss Thailand World, which means withdrawing from the SEA Games."

While I'm all for extra-curricular activities, I think Pongchanok's dedication to her sport has to be questioned.

But then there's nothing quite like a kick in the face to ruin a beauty contest.