Band Girly Berry rejects criticism it failed in its role as model citizens for youth after its members appeared at a Songkran concert dressed in "sexy-looking clothes".

The band says it did its job as both role models and artists at the Khao San Road concert.

"We all feel glad we took part in promoting culture for youth. But we want to say that we have more than one role," says Giftza, aka Piya Pongkullapa.

"We are young people who campaigned for youth to be safe while having fun with water, raising awareness of Elderly Day and warning people not to drive drunk. We were excited to dress up in traditional costumes during the Culture Ministry's Songkran festival conference."

Entertainers

"But our second role is that we are all artists who entertain people and make them happy with our songs," she adds.

"As everybody knows, Girly Berry is a girl group whose image, singing and dancing are influenced by Western culture. That day we were Girly Berry."

The rest are Giftzy aka Vanida Termthanaphorn, Belle aka Mananya Limsathian and Nannie aka Phattaranan Deeratsamee.

The Culture Ministry recently recruited the girls in its campaign urging members of the public to celebrate the Songkran Festival properly.

"The truth is that Girly Berry wasn't the ministry's presenter for promoting traditional costume or anything. They took part in promoting culture," insists Sudhipong Vatanajang, executive vice president at RS, the band's music company.