James Rusameekae: The Physical: Asia contestant stealing the show (and everyone’s hearts)

Netflix’s Physical: Asia just dropped its newest season and it’s already shot straight to the top of the charts. And honestly? We get it.

Ever since the first Physical: 100 aired its first season in 2023, fans have been hooked on the show’s brutal obstacle courses, intense rivalries, and, let’s be honest, its lineup of incredibly fit (and very easy-on-the-eyes) contestants.

This time, the show is going regional. The new Physical: Asia brings together contestants from eight countries — Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Mongolia, Türkiye and the Philippines — all ready to test their limits.

Released on October 28, this season features returning champ Amotti, Australia’s Robert Whittaker, Thailand’s Superbon and even legendary boxer and former Philippine senator Manny Pacquiao. But among all the big names, one contestant has quietly (and hilariously) stolen the spotlight: James Rusameekae from Team Thailand.

Who is James Rusameekae?

For those who aren’t familiar, James Rusameekae Fagerlund is a Thai actor and TV host of mixed Thai-Black heritage. He’s starred in several Thai shows like Jenny AM/PM (2022), Suptar 2550 (2022), Frisky Boxer (2023), Bangkok Blossom (2024) and The Twin Gambit (2025).

Before becoming an entertainer, James was actually a professional volleyball player, which explains his height and athletic build. That competitive streak clearly carried over and it’s part of what makes him so fun to watch on Physical: Asia.

His entrance on the show had everyone talking

When James first appeared on screen, he didn’t exactly blend in. Dressed in a robe and shiny Saint Laurent heels, he made one of the most memorable entrances on the show. Contestants couldn’t help but wonder who he was and what sport he even played.

But it didn’t take long for James to prove he wasn’t just there for laughs. As he later said, “I’m just a really athletic person in general, you know? One time, I joined this celebrity boxing competition just for fun, and well, I won that.”

He even calls himself the ‘Thai King Kong’ because, as he puts it, he’s strong and a natural leader.

The moment that changed everyone’s mind

If anyone still doubted him, the Shipwreck episode shut that down fast. While most teams had two people carrying a single 50 kg crate, James lifted one completely on his own with no help, and no complaints.

It was one of those moments that made everyone sit up and go, okay, he’s the real deal.

Even though Team Thailand didn’t perform as well as they’d hoped, James’s positivity and sense of humour stood out. He wasn’t just strong but he was fun, supportive and genuinely kind. In a show that can get pretty intense, that energy was refreshing.

Fans can’t get enough of him

Since then, James has become a total fan favourite. TikTok is flooded with edits of his funniest and most charming moments.

One fan commented, “I rooted for Thailand just because of him. He was funny and actually so useful to his team.” Others wrote:

His iconic Thailand vs Korea speech

One of James’s most viral moments came when he jokingly compared Thailand and South Korea. He said, “Korea might have kimchi, but Thailand’s got som tam. Korea might have Korean Air, but we’ve got Thai Airways. You gave us BLACKpink’s Jisoo, but we gave you BLACKpink’s Lisa. We’re practically equals, so I say let’s go!”

It was bold, funny, and totally James. Fans loved how he could keep things lighthearted even when the competition got tough.

His friendship with BLACKpink’s Lisa

Speaking of Lisa, James has been spotted hanging out with her too. He attended her birthday party in 2024, where he revealed he planned to give her the gold medal he won from the celebrity boxing show 10 Fight 10.

In his Instagram caption, he wrote, “The birthday present that I intended to give it to you... is the gold medal that I won from 10fight10... this successful reward, I would like to repay to you instead. I love you ❤️.”

Recently, during Blackpink’s Deadline Tour in Thailand, James also took to Instagram to share a moment he had with Blackpink’s Lisa, and captioned, “My Rockstar 🩷 forever”.

Why everyone’s rooting for James

There’s something about James Rusameekae that’s just impossible not to like. He’s funny, grounded, confident and clearly someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously, even when the pressure’s on. So let’s be real, whether you love him for his sass, his strength or his heart, there’s no denying it: Physical: Asia just wouldn’t be as fun without him.