Vietnamese beauty crowned Miss Grand International 2021

Tien, 23, finished ahead of 59 contestants at the grand finale held Saturday evening in Bangkok, Thailand.

Tien beat the Ecuador contestant in a Top 2 final-question round, where they were asked why they think should win the title.

"I have to be honest that I didn’t think I would be standing here. I’m very nervous right now... I’m ready to work. I’m ready to be in Thailand for one year," the Vietnamese contestant said.

Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien (L) receives the crown from Miss Grand International 2020, Abena Appiah from the U.S. Photo courtesy of Tien

Earlier that night, she had been asked: "With the current world situation there are many problems such as those related to human rights and economy, if you choose one person to discuss the problem in order to make the change, who will you choose and why?"

Tien said she would talk to the woman who invented the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

"She doesn't need money from her invention and I'm grateful for that. Sometimes you just need to work and don't care what you get."

Her answer was applauded by the judges and the audience.

Tien is the first Vietnamese contestant to win the Miss Grand International title.

The contest’s organizers also awarded first and second runners-up titles to the contestants from Ecuador and Brazil.

Miss Grand International was founded in 2013. It’s one of the six major global beauty contests held annually, the others being: Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss Earth and Miss Supranational.