Cherprang Areekul

Cherprang Areekul is a Thai entertainer best known as a former member and original captain of the Thai idol group BNK48, an international sister group of Japan's AKB48. Over time, her responsibilities expanded to include serving as general manager, a role she maintained through her idol graduation until passing it on in June 2025 to pursue full-time acting. In August 2025, she temporarily moved to Tokyo, Japan, to begin a one-year master's program while continuing her professional work in Bangkok.

Born in Hat Yai, Songkhla, Cherprang grew up in Southern Thailand before moving to Bangkok. She attended Roong Aroon School, an alternative secondary institution where she discovered an interest in mathematics and scientific experimentation. She later enrolled at Mahidol University International College, earning a degree with a major in chemistry and a minor in physics. While studying, she worked as a research assistant and coauthored a study on the blue bottle experiment that appeared in a scientific publication in late 2017. During her college years, she also participated in Japanese cultural events as a cosplayer.

Cherprang joined BNK48 in early 2017 after passing the group's selection process, becoming one of its original trainees. When the group officially debuted in June 2017, she was selected for its initial single and appointed as group captain due to her leadership qualities. Later that year, she joined Team BIII. In 2018, she took part in the global AKB48 general election in Japan, ranking 39th and joining the Next Girls unit. In April 2023, she announced her upcoming departure from the group, concluding her time as an idol with a graduation ceremony in October 2023.

Alongside her music performance, Cherprang established a career in screen acting. She secured her first main role in the thriller film Homestay, produced by GDH 559 and released in October 2018. She transitioned to television series late the following year with a leading role in One Year 365, performing alongside several of her group peers. Following her graduation and former managerial exit, she transitioned fully into acting roles.

Because of her background in science, Cherprang participated in numerous academic forums, domestic events, and international science festivals. She addressed international representatives on sustainable development goals at a symposium in Japan in 2019, and her image was sent into space on a satellite launch that same year. Over her career, she received several honors, including a national youth recognition award and an educational role model trophy. Additionally, her supporters funded the creation of a named science library at a school in Northern Thailand.