Background
She is the daughter of Norodom Sihanouk and the late Neak Moneang Phat Kanthol, the elder sister of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, and a half-sibling of current King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni.
She is the daughter of Norodom Sihanouk and the late Neak Moneang Phat Kanthol, the elder sister of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, and a half-sibling of current King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni.
Buppha Devi comes from Pali words puppha (បុប្ផា) meaning flower and devi (ទេវី) meaning goddess. The name is also romanised as "Bopha Devi or "Bophadevi."
Buppha Devi finished her high school education at Lycée Preah Norodom in Phnom Penh. At the age of 15, she became the premiere dancer of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia.
At the age of 18, she was granted the title of prima ballerina.
She then toured the world as the principal dancer of the Royal Ballet with Queen Kossamak, performing in public. In the past the ballet had been performed only before royalty to commemorate their dynastic ancestors and to honour the gods.
Buppha Devi married in 1959 at the age of fifteen, and has five children:
Princess Sisowath Moni Kossoma (born 1960)
Princess Sisowath Kalyan Tevi (b 1961)
Keo Chinsita Forsinetti (b 1965)
Prince Sisowath Chivannariddh (b 1968)
Prince Sisowath Veakchiravuddh (b 1973)
Buppha Devi formerly served as the Minister of Culture and Fine Arts in Cambodia.