In 2 years, winning 2 titles of 2 major beauty contests, Miss Vietnam and Miss International, Miss Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy had a conversation with Lao Dong reporter to look back on the past meaningful milestones and the upcoming journey.
Before Thanh Thuy, Vietnam had many beauties crowned in international beauty pageants such as Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc... In your opinion, what is the biggest change that the international beauty pageant title brings to beauties? Is it the income, the show fee, the expensive advertising contracts...?
- I think the common point among the beauties who compete internationally is that they have used their beauty and intelligence to promote Vietnamese culture and tourism. Sisters like Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc and many other beauty queens and runners-up have actively participated in community activities, trained their skills, and promoted many tourism and community projects. They are always examples for me to learn from. I will also strive to promote the beauty of Vietnam to the world and in my upcoming projects in 2025.
When competing in world beauty pageants, in your opinion, which part of the competition is the most stressful?
- I think the most difficult part of the competition is the behavior part. That part will decide who will be the beauty queen. I have reviewed a lot of knowledge, studied many fields. When I drew the questions, I prayed that I would receive a question within the content I had studied. I drew question number 1, I thought to myself "number 1 must be the beauty queen". Thanks to that, I was calmer and more confident.
Thanh Thuy is an innocent and carefree person, growing up in a family protected and loved by her parents. So how did you find the motivation to overcome more than 70 contestants and win the 3rd largest beauty contest in the world?
- I think I am an innocent person, but not a weak person. When I entered the contest, my determination was very high, I focused all my efforts on the contest. I tried to develop my personality, not to lose myself because of being too ambitious. I think the audience also loves my honesty and innocence.
After the night of Miss International coronation, some viewers compared Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy to the girl who got the miracle of glass slippers. For you, what do you compare the dream of winning the crown to?
- For me, winning Miss International is a dream come true. It is a beautiful dream of 2024. When I look back on my journey to the crown, I feel satisfied and pleased with my youth journey. The 2 crowns are the pride of myself, my parents and my family. I always cherish those milestones.
Representatives of beauty powerhouses like Venezuela, the Philippines or India always attract attention and interest. At Miss International, Vietnam is not a very strong representative, and its achievements in previous years have not been good. Does that put pressure on you?
- I always have specific goals to strive for and never think of giving up. I always think that I only have 15 days to complete the goal and show myself. I don't have time to be afraid or hesitate. I just know to do my best to do well, worthy of the effort I have tried to practice and improve.
In real life, Thanh Thuy is a lively, cheerful girl, different from the image of a “beauty queen” wearing a crown in front of the media. Is it difficult for you to balance the image of a standard, classy beauty queen and the personality of a real young girl?
- When I need to focus on work, I am still serious. As for my true personality, I will still express it freely. The Miss International organizing committee also wants the contestants to express their true personalities. People think that beauty queens will always be serious, must show a noble, elegant appearance. But in fact, the beauty queens and runners-up that I have met in real life are all cheerful, humorous, and full of positive energy.
You are from Vietnam when you join Miss International. How do you make yourself stand out?
- Actually, the judges observe very carefully, and will have their own evaluation throughout the competition, not just focusing on the final night.
I think my outstanding point in the contest is to show the beauty of traditional Vietnamese culture, express my own personality, promote the quintessential products of the Vietnamese people such as coffee, conical hats, ao dai... I do not try to force myself into a specific model to suit the contest. In any work schedule, I clearly show that I come from Vietnam, I am a Vietnamese girl. That could be the basis for the judges to see my outstanding features.
Thanh Thuy was crowned Miss Vietnam and Miss International at a very young age. Do you think, in the future, will you have to "force yourself to ripen" - that is, become more mature and older than your peers to fit the beauty queen crown?
- I think if I didn't fit into that dress, the judges wouldn't have chosen me. The Miss International judges have always supported me to be happy and live my life according to my age. One of the judges commented that I was innocent and carefree like a child, and they liked that. Thanks to that, I no longer wonder who I should become.
From a young girl, Thanh Thuy returned home with a crown and a noble title. How has your life changed since then?
- When I returned home, my parents and family burst into tears and happily welcomed me. My relatives also gave my family many gifts. When I was crowned Miss Vietnam, my father held a party to entertain relatives and neighbors. Now that I have been crowned Miss International, my family is celebrating for the second time. That makes me very happy.
If you were given 3 words to describe the moment of being crowned Miss International, what would Thanh Thuy say?
- Proud, uplifted and grateful.
You were crowned Miss Vietnam at the age of 20, facing much praise and criticism. Did Thanh Thuy ever feel pressured or upset by the weight of the crown and the pressure from public expectations?
- I also had times of stress, a lot of stress, but I never thought of giving up. When I was 20, I was still innocent, but I always tried to keep my mind at ease. If I had any stress, I would confide in my parents. My parents have always been my spiritual support.
Are you under pressure to always look your best in the years to come?
- I think when I try my best, always trying to do this and that, I easily get tired. Before entering the competition, I was under a lot of pressure, but when I entered, I relaxed to enjoy. I feel that accepting and enjoying everything lightly helps me get better results. Now, I try to keep an optimistic mindset. When I'm tired, I also try to think of positive things to feel better.
Suppose, if you didn't become a beauty queen, what do you think you would do?
- I think if I didn't become a beauty queen, I would be a model or work in the tourism industry. I want to visit many places. Luckily, becoming a beauty queen gives me the opportunity to do both.
(Posted on the special edition of Labor Weekend Spring At Ty)
