Born to Tharrawaddy Min and his wife, she held the position of the Tabindaing Princess (chief queen designate) during her father's reign.

Setkya Dewi was educated at home, and her best subject was astrology;[5] she read both traditional Burmese Bedin and the Vedas.

[8] Upon the abdication of her paternal uncle Sagaing Min, after about forty-day long[9] palace revolution starting from 24 February 1837,[10] her father ascended the throne on 30 April that year;[11][12] consequently, Setkya Dewi assumed the position of Thameedawgyi[nb 2] (the equivalent of Princess Royal).

'Life release award'), the authority to acquit people on death row,[17][18] a power which she kept till the reign of Mindon Min.

[1][nb 3] A festival in honour of the kaṇṇavijjhana maṅgalā (ear-boring ceremony) of Setkya Dewi was held from 8 to 28 November 1840 in Amarapura, starting with a Thingyandaw bathing rite.

[22] At around 8:00 am on 11 November, a service conducting ear-boring, hair-knotting, shawl-wrapping and necklace-wearing rites of Setkya Dewi was performed in front of the Bhamarāsana Throne in the Glass Palace.

[22] As part of the ceremony, a total of 42 prisoners were released; bolts of paso, gaung baung and cotton cloth were given to princes, ministers, counsellors, su-yays[nb 4] and su-gaings;[nb 5] pasos, htameins, gaung baungs, scarfs and towels were given away in charity to all the audience.

[34] At around 1:36 am on 26 March, Setkya Dewi was made the chief queen consort at the front of the Great Audience Hall.