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Her candid revelation that she was seeing Thai tennis ace Paradorn Srichaphan sparked a controversy. She came under attack, as critics said she was not following the modest practices of the average Thai woman. She was in the spotlight simply because of her openness and her "un-Thai" behaviour.

Fast-forward to the year 2008, and things have come full circle: the public cannot stand the possibility of missing the latest developments in her relationship with her fiancé Prem Busarakamwong. As rumours began to spread over the past few months that Prem was seeing someone else and that the two were no longer wearing engagement rings, Tata was followed and the public wanted her to speak her heart out.

She's likely feeling puzzled - once slammed for her openness, her silence now is not appreciated.

The speed at which news travels in 2008 may have also surpassed her expectations. The news broke even before Tata started to answer her first question from the press. Every single mode of communication was exhausted in the hunt for updates on Prem-Tata. The fact the she would speak to the press about Prem was already big news. Whether by SMS news updates, blogs, community websites, news websites or radio and TV programmes, Tata's name was everywhere despite other interesting news from Beijing and London.

She admitted that she had shed some tears in private, but she knows how to behave before the cameras and kept a smile on her face at all times.

Some critics say it is an opportunity for Tata to be in the spotlight but does she really need that? Not really, her faithful fans would say.

Whatever the critics say, Tata has handled the situation well so far, answering all the questions asked of her. Even better, she did not break into tears or try to fling any mud on Prem.

She was once criticised for her "un-Thai" manner in talking about Paradorn, so it is fair now that some good things are being said about her character now.

She allowed the press to get the latest news and she tried to tell the truth - as much as possible - about her love crisis. She felt that she needed to come out and inform the public to protect Prem.

"There are many negative stories about Prem and it isn't fair to him," she said on Wednesday. She also praised her ex-fiancé as a good man.

After all, as her critics said in 2003, Tata is not like an average Thai woman. But looking at the positive side, it is good in a way that she doesn't ask for sympathy and play the blame game. Perhaps some male stars could learn from her example. When your love life is busted, try the "un-Thai" Tata action. You may help save both sides.