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On Oct. 3, in the interview round, when she was asked by pageant president Nawat Itsaragrisil "What is your hobby in your country?" she appeared unsure about the question and turned to another contestant for help.
Her response subsequently was considered off-topic, and some viewers said her English skills seemed to have deteriorated from earlier this year when she competed in the national pageant.
Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi responds during the interview segment at Miss Grand International 2025. Video courtesy of MIG
That evening she went live on social media to talk with fans about the event, and said the conversation took place after the talent round and contestants were not given the questions in advance.
She admitted she had not prepared and did not perform well. Her English is limited but enough for communication, and she understood Nawat’s question but was too nervous to give a good answer, she said.
"Before going, I did not know what the competition was like or what the criteria were. I just wanted to stay as relaxed as possible. I was also one of the youngest contestants."
Some viewers said she lacked seriousness when competing on the international stage.
One of them, Hoang Duy, said: "Researching the competition is the first thing a contestant should do. Without that, how can she have the confidence and strategy to aim for the crown?"
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Vietnam’s representative at Miss Grand International 2025 Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi. Photo courtesy of Nhi |
On the evening of Oct. 4, in an apology posted on social media, she said she had spoken too quickly and might have upset viewers. "I apologize and thank everyone for their feedback, guidance and support."
She called it a lesson for improving herself and hoped for continued support from the public.
In a video posted by her roommate, Miss Tanzania, viewers heard what is believed to be Nhi’s conversation with another person, where she used phrases deemed inappropriate.
She has not responded to the issue. After more than a week at the competition she failed to impress the judges in key rounds. She did not place in the top 15 in the talent round on Oct. 3.
She had two weeks to prepare for the competition after being crowned Miss Grand Vietnam on Sept. 14. Nhi is from Dak Lak Province and is a third-year student of tourism and hospitality management at Van Hien University in HCMC. She competed in Miss Grand Vietnam 2024 and finished in the top 15.
Miss Grand International was founded in 2013 by Itsaragrisil to promote peace and call for an end to war and violence. It is held annually in various countries, including in Vietnam in 2017 and 2023.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien won the title in 2021. This year’s event in Thailand has attracted 67 contestants from around the world. They are competing in swimsuit, national costume and closed-door interview rounds before the finals on Oct. 18.
