Justice For Myanmar (JFM) announced on July 18 that Vogue Italia has removed content featuring Rachel Tay Za, daughter of military crony Tay Za. Coincidentally, the announcement came on Tay Za’s birthday, as confirmed by company registration documents. The removal of his daughter’s feature served as an unexpected birthday development for Tay Za, who is known as a key military-affiliated business figure.
Rachel Tay Za, who lives in Italy and graduated from a prestigious fashion school there, continues to serve as a director in her father’s Htoo Group of Companies, which is currently under European Union sanctions. According to her LinkedIn profile, she resides in Milan and graduated from a renowned fashion school in the city, with her education funded by profits from the Htoo Group. While most Myanmar youth have lost educational opportunities following the military’s 2021 coup and the country faces destruction, the ability of children of cronies like Rachel Tay Za and military officials to study at international universities without concern has sparked anger among the Myanmar public.
Notably, immediately following the news of the content removal by Vogue Italia, Rachel Tay Za changed her Instagram account from public to private visibility. She had previously maintained a public account to promote her products and lifestyle, but quickly restricted access after JFM began calling on fashion companies to cease collaboration with her. When her account was public, she regularly posted photos of her dog adorned with expensive jewelry and images of luxury purchases, which had generated significant resentment among Myanmar citizens viewing the displays of wealth.
While studying at international schools and living luxuriously abroad would normally be admirable achievements, the wealth of crony families like the Tay Zas, accumulated through exploitation of national resources in partnership with the military regime, has fueled public anger. Rachel Tay Za continues to hold directorships in at least seven Htoo Group companies while in Italy and maintains shareholdings in these businesses. Due to her involvement with the military-affiliated Htoo Group and her position as Tay Za’s daughter, she was sanctioned by the United States in January 2023. Her father Tay Za and brothers Pye Phyo Tay Za and Htoo Htet Tay Za have also been sanctioned by the US, UK and Canada.
