Paing Takhon (Burmese: ပိုင်တံခွန်; pronounced [pàɪɰ̃ dəgʊ̀ɰ̃] ^ⓘ; born 1996) is a Burmese model, actor, and singer.^[2][3] He began his entertainment career in 2014 as a runway model.^[4][5] He is also one of the few Myanmar citizens with an international profile, given the country only began opening up to the outside world over the last decade.^[6]

In 2018, Paing Takhon featured on the BuzzFeed's "23 Stunning South Asian Men That Are Too Gorgeous For Words".^[7][8] In 2019, he was listed on The Myanmar Times "Top 10 Actors".^[9]

Paing Takhon was born Sit Ko Paing (Burmese: စစ်ကိုပိုင်)^[10] in 1996 in Kawthaung, Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar,^[1] to Tun Moe and his wife, Khin Kyu. He grew up in Khamaukgyi.^[11] He is the fourth child of six siblings, having an elder brother, two elder sisters and two younger brothers.^[12] He graduated high school from Basic Education High School No. 1 Khamaukgyi. In 2014, he moved to Yangon to become a model. In 2017, he began studying psychology at the University of Distance Education, Yangon.^[13]

Paing Takhon started singing in 2017. He launched his debut solo album Chit Thu (Lover) on 16 September 2017.^[33] He donated all his money from selling his albums to orphan children from Ananda Metta orphan school.^[34]

He is also known as the face of many brands. His first brand worked as the ambassador for Pond's Myanmar in 2014. In 2019, he started working as brand ambassador for major brands such as Oppo Myanmar, Telenor Myanmar, Sunkist Myanmar, T247 energy drink, MG Vehicles Myanmar and Sailun Tire Myanmar.^[35][36]

Paing Takhon is a business partner and share holder of the United Amara Bank. He is also the founder of a beauty product company.^[37][38]

Following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, Paing Takhon was active in the anti-coup movement both in person at rallies and through social media.^[39] Denouncing the military coup, he has taken part in protests since February.^[40] He joined the "We Want Justice" three-finger salute movement. The movement was launched on social media, and many celebrities have joined the movement.^[41]

On 7 April 2021, warrants for his arrest were issued under section 505 (a) of the Myanmar Penal Code by the State Administration Council for speaking out against the military coup. Along with several other celebrities, he was charged with calling for participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and damaging the state's ability to govern, with supporting the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, and with generally inciting the people to disturb the peace and stability of the nation.^[42]

On 8 April 2021, he was arrested and taken into custody in the North Dagon area of Yangon at 5:00 am from his mother's home, according to local media reports. He was suffering from cerebral malaria and congenital diseases including coronary heart disease and asthma at the time when he was arrested.^{[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50]} He was sentenced to three years of hard labor.^[51] He was released from Insein Prison under a state pardon on 2 March 2022 after agreeing to collaborate with the military.^[52][53] In April 2023, Takhon performed for the military at Myanmar Thingyan Festival and was subsequently boycotted.^[53]