Returning from Japan after a 15-day journey, Miss Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy had a conversation with Lao Dong Newspaper reporters to look back on the meaningful milestones of the past and the upcoming journey.
Thanh Thuy represents Vietnam competing with more than 70 beauties from all over the world. When bringing Vietnamese identity and culture to a world beauty contest, what do international contestants ask you about Vietnam?
- The first things you ask me about Vietnam are usually the beautiful and interesting things you have heard about before. For example, pho, coffee, banh mi, ao dai. When they saw me wearing the national costume of Lua Nang Sen, they asked me what design it was, what material it was made of, how the silk was made from... I shared with them that Vietnamese ao dai is handmade by artisans in Vietnam, and that Vietnamese people cherish the ao dai. I told them about high school students wearing white ao dai to school. I told them about traditional silk, a very special handmade fabric of Vietnamese people, and how it is intricately woven. International friends were very interested in hearing me tell stories about Vietnam and wanted to try on the ao dai. That made me very happy.
Also on my journey, I always mention Vietnam, holding the Vietnamese flag with all my love and pride.
There are many images associated with the national flag that when I look back now, I still cry with emotion.
When introducing Vietnamese culture or mentioning the two words "Vietnam" among many countries in the world, what is your greatest feeling?
- I come from the Miss Vietnam contest - a long-standing and prestigious contest, so when I introduce myself as coming from Vietnam, I am proud to bring the beauty and culture of the country to the world. During my participation, through the stories I tell, I introduce to international friends the wonderful image of Vietnamese women. As for myself, I am careful in every word, communication, and outfit. I cultivate and learn to improve myself every day.
A behind-the-scenes story from Miss International that you've never told?
- I will always remember the days of parting. Every time a representative returned to the country, we hugged each other and cried. We cried many times and everyone loved each other very much. I was close to my roommate and many other friends. I often confided in the Japanese beauty because we shared a room.
The beauties representing Vietnam in competitions always become the center of attention and are followed and paid attention by the audience. Thanh Thuy, with the title of Miss Vietnam competing internationally, is even more interested. How do you receive the comments, both compliments and criticisms, from the audience?
- When I signed up for the contest, I received a lot of support from the audience, which was a great motivation for me. The compliments from the audience gave me great strength. Just one day wearing a nice outfit and being complimented, I will try harder to not disappoint those who have high expectations of me.
Many Vietnamese beauties competing internationally are scrutinized and discussed by audiences in every small detail, not only their behavior and skills, but also their hairstyle, outfits, makeup... Faced with many opinions, do you choose to follow the majority or choose what you think is right?
- I receive a lot of feedback from the audience and appreciate it. For example, with my appearance, I will choose the outfit and hairstyle that suits me and makes me feel most confident. When I show confidence, the audience will pay attention to my energy on stage. The audience has comments like I should wear this outfit or do my hair like that to perform. I take note and listen to and absorb constructive comments.
Vietnamese representatives in recent years have not had high achievements in the Miss International arena. Does that make Thanh Thuy feel pressured?
- When I go to a competition, I prepare carefully. I focus on performing well and shining in the competition. If it is a difficult competition, I cherish the ambition to achieve the highest goal. That is my thought when participating in the competition.
After Thanh Thuy was crowned, the audience looked back and thought that you had many "prophetic" moments for the coronation moment. How did you imagine the moment of being crowned?
- I prepared myself mentally for the coronation and imagined it many times. That was also how I motivated myself and increased my energy for each appearance. I think telling myself, "I will be crowned" was effective (laughs).
In the behavioral part, you had a short but impressive answer, right to the point of the question. How did you prepare for that part?
- I had prepared for the interview many months in advance. I knew that the Miss International pageant was interested in SDGs - the United Nations' sustainable development goals, in which education is a top priority. Therefore, I learned a lot about this topic.
When entering the question and answer round, the organizers only limited the time to 30 seconds, so I had to answer as briefly and concisely as possible.
According to Thanh Thuy, what makes you different from the other contestants to win the crown?
- Each contestant has their own beauty and talent. I think my qualities fit the judges' criteria. What stands out about me in the contest is expressing Vietnamese cultural traditions and expressing my personality instead of forcing myself into a model to fit the contest. That could be the basis for the judges to see my outstanding qualities.
I also consider the beauties who have been successful in international competitions such as: Do Thi Ha, Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, Luong Thuy Linh, Ngoc Hang... as examples and inspirations to conquer international crowns.
Before Thanh Thuy, there were many Vietnamese beauties who achieved good results in international beauty contests. When she has an international crown, how will Thanh Thuy be different from the beauty queens - who are said to be increasing in number in Vietnam?
- I came out of the Miss Vietnam contest, and I am always aware that I must promote the good values that generations of Miss Vietnam have preserved over the years. The Miss International crown helps me affirm myself, have more influence and be able to convey messages to young people, creating many values for the community.
In Vietnam, beauty queens are often given titles such as the most beautiful beauty queen, the most intelligent beauty queen, the beauty queen with the most beautiful body... Where does Thanh Thuy position herself among Vietnamese beauties?
- I don't care too much about the audience comparing beauties to each other. I focus on cultivating, promoting my strengths and improving my weaknesses. Those titles are the audience's favor for beauties, and are the topics that the audience discusses on social networks. I don't put too much emphasis on having anything "best".
Some people say that when beauty queens compete, they always say they “bring glory to the country”. This statement is considered an exaggeration, because having many international beauty queens does not change the country’s economy, and of course, cannot change world peace. What do you think about this perspective?
- Prestigious beauty pageants in Vietnam have the ability to stimulate tourism and promote culture. My goal during my term is to continue the community mission, while at the same time maintaining my studies and implementing projects to exchange and connect cultures around the world.
Thanh Thuy had 2 memorable coronation moments. What do you think are the similarities and differences between the 2 times her name was called?
- There are some similarities, such as my position in both coronations was at the far end, I held the hand of the contestant standing next to me with my right hand, I lowered my head when I heard the results and looked up when my name was called. Those details were similar, but my emotions when I was crowned Miss International 2024 were more overwhelming, more proud than when I wore the Vietnamese sash at the international competition. National pride flowed through me when the two words Vietnam rang out.
Another coincidence is that I won two contests before Tet. Tet 2023, I was crowned Miss Vietnam, Tet 2025 was also the occasion when I won the Miss International crown. I am very happy for that opportunity.
