Originally from Milan, Italy, Veronica moved to the UK at 18 to study criminal law. She spent four years there, balancing university with long hours as a restaurant manager. Fitness was always part of her life. She had a qualification in personal training but never worked in the field.
An active holiday brought her to Phuket, where she tried Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA. Muay Thai was the one that stuck. Her first session was on Soi Ta-iad in Chalong, a one-and-a-half-kilometre stretch built around training, lined with Muay Thai and MMA gyms, CrossFit boxes, health cafés and recovery spots.
She decided to stay. Early on, she lived off rental income from a UK property while figuring things out. Two months in, she got her first Muay Thai tattoo from a kru at Tiger Muay Thai. By five months, she was working there as a fitness coach. In the afternoons, she trains at Rattachai Muay Thai, a family-run gym on the street.
Shock
Veronica’s first fight was a shock. “I didn’t know how it would feel to get kicked or to kick someone. I was very anxious and scared,” she said.
Now 25, she holds an 11–2 record, fighting forward with a clinch-heavy Muay Khao style. At Rattachai, she has built close bonds with younger fighters and started learning Thai.
With experience and support from the krus, Veronica’s fear faded. “The krus genuinely care about your progress. Now it’s almost fun,” she says. “It’s still a challenge, but I’m not scared anymore. I love the process.”
Training has shaped her beyond the ring, she explains. “When you are preparing to fight, you eat better. You take care of yourself more. I’m more confident. Not just in training. In everything.” Some days she arrives in a bad mood. After training, she leaves lighter.
More women are stepping into Muay Thai, though self-belief can still be a barrier.
“Women shouldn’t feel self-conscious about starting, especially about what they wear, like a crop top, or how they look,” says Veronica. “Even I have days where I think maybe I should cover up more. But it’s normal.”
Focus
Soi Ta-iad has given her more than a sport. It has given her a life she hadn’t planned. You run into the same people every day, even as new faces come and go.
“I’ve never been so social,” she says. “I go out all the time with people from the street. But I’m also comfortable on my own.”
She met her now ex-partner, a Thai colleague at Tiger Muay Thai. They were together for a year and remain on good terms.
Still, she is cautious about mixing dating with training.
“If you’re here to train, I wouldn’t recommend dating on Soi Ta-Iad,” she says. “It can be a distraction. And if someone leaves, it can hurt.”
For now, her focus is simple. Fighting. Training.
“I came here for a trip to concentrate on my health,” she says. “I didn’t expect to stay.”
You can follow Veronica Galparoli on Instagram @coach_verogalpa