Buntan defends her title against Muay Thai queen Stella Hemetsberger in the main event of A Fighting Night 40 on Friday, February 13, broadcast live in US primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. The 28-year-old California native has graced the pages of Vogue Philippines and Numéro Netherlands despite never planning a modeling career. High-fashion publications approached her organically.
Her path to modeling began during amateur competitions in the Southern California Muay Thai scene. Photographers from the local community moved into commercial work for major brands and magazines, creating opportunities for Buntan. She approaches each collaboration carefully and ensures that partnerships align with her personal brand and values. The most important consideration remains authenticity and not just chasing opportunities.
The size of the projects grew steadily. Buntan appeared in catalog shoots for women’s athletic brand Athleta before moving into editorial fashion. That shift brought different expectations beyond athletic performance metrics. Fashion work focuses on mood, expression and creative interpretation rather than measurable results.
“It’s super fun. I think any girl you ask will enjoy playing dress-up and will enjoy doing it in super expensive clothes and high fashion,” Buntan said. “You imagine yourself in a different world where you can almost pretend. So yes, I like it. It’s like you get to live out another alter ego.”
Jackie Buntan reflects on surpassing childhood dreams
Jackie Buntan prepares to defend her ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing world title against Stella Hemetsberger in US primetime this Friday at ONE Fight Night 40. The journey still feels surreal for the California native who started training at the age of 11. Professional fighting and championship titles never crossed her radar at the time, and modeling seemed even further away.
The young girl just loved going to the gym and throwing roundhouse kicks. Fun motivated her training rather than grand ambitions. Professional fighting developed naturally over time and not through planning in childhood. The modeling opportunities came as complete surprises that fell into her lap through organic connections.
Everything Buntan has achieved is beyond what that 11-year-old girl could have imagined. ONE World titles, fashion magazine distribution and recognition as one of the sport’s top players represent achievements she never dreamed of as a high school student. If she could travel back in time and tell her younger self what was going to happen, that little girl would be absolutely amazed at the success.
“I think young Jackie would say with her mouth open, ‘What do you mean we’re doing all this? What do you mean? We’re fighting? What do you mean we’re a world champion and we’re in Vogue? That’s crazy! That’s amazing!'” Buntan said.
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