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You saw her a few times in one of the Khmer Kaoroke music DVD and then suddenly she is everywhere and famous??? That is the Khmer young girl named Meas Sok Sophea. I saw her the first time on one of Reay Meas Karaoke music DVDs. Her voice caught my attention right away. I thought she was little, cute and very young girl with a very fine voice and she could sing Khmer/English songs better than most Cambodian singers at the time. A few months later, every Khmer Karaoke music DVD I bought, she is on them….everywhere including many CTN TV programs, etc. The information below is mostly based on her interview with Yuk Chinda and Ong Ratha for the CTN Channel 21 Program.

Meas Sok Sophea was born to a family of five: her father who died when she was 14, mother Meas Vilon who still lives in Kean Svay, her older brother Meas Rathanak, herself and her younger brother Meas Vanthanak who is still in school. She was born in Kean Svay and went to DeyIt College. She quit school at 10th grade when her father was ill to help take care of family business as she is the only girl in the family. Her mother made a living by selling rice and foods in a community about 2 Km from where she lived.

It was very difficult, she told the CTN hostess Yuk Chinda. Everyday, she had to help her mother cooking and carrying stuff from her home back and forth to the place where they sold rice and foods. She said it was particularly difficult when there were a lot of foods left and she had to carry them back home. That had gone on for several years - from 1995 until 1999 when her older bother and her decided to challenge themselves by going to live in Phnom Penh, the big City where they had never been to though they lived only about 25 Km away.

Not much different from other famous and successful Khmer singers, Meas Sok Sophea had to start somewhere to get to what she is today. When she first arrived in Phnom Penh, she rented a one bedroom appartment in Bong Kock with her brother and lived there while working as a waitress making $60 a month at the Casa Hotel for a year. While she was working as the waitress, she also studied English as the majority of guests at the Hotel were foreigners. At Casa Hotel, there was a singing contest that she participated. She got the 2nd place. Then, she had an opportunity to sing for MK Production for short period of time. Afterward, she got a phone call from Mrs. Sokun Tevi of Ankorwat Production to sing for her after she saw her singing on a TV program.

Her first song with Ankorwat Production was an English song titled “Wait for a Moment, the Postman.” Her beautiful voice and talent were quickly recognized and she was invited to sing for many music production companies soon after. In addition to singing and acting for Khmer Karaoke and Music production companies, she also sings for clubs such as Neak Pon and U2.

On a different interview, she said she liked to go to a Karaoke place to sing and record it for herself to listen. Then, the manger of the place saw her ability and then gave her opportunity to try out. Though the story went so quick and seem to be very positive, she said that there were a lot of obstacles which she said she did not want the audience to pay attention. There were times when she wanted to give up as she got tired of trying and her brother advised her to take one step at a time and be persistent.

Once her luck started to pick up, everything seems to be very positive. Now, her dream has come true to what she always wanted. She went to France, Australia and right now at the time this article is being written she is in California, USA. She and her brother who is now married always go and visit their mother who does not like to live in Phnom Penh but where she used to be in Kean Svay. She is currently living with her Ant in Phnom Penh.

Meas Sok Sophea is like many other Khmer successful young girls who had gone through ordeals and hardships. With no real training or schooling of any sort in the field, yet she managed to make her way to the top. Meas Sok Sophea is a great model to many other Khmer girls who are searching for their dream in the same career. Ankorthom sincerely would like to wish her the best of luck and will continue to watch her moving on with her success.