Beauty contest denies announcing false results on purpose

The 2023 Miss Ocean Vietnam pageant winner Tran Thi Thu Uyen. Photo from Miss Ocean Vietnam Facebook

At the 2023 Miss Ocean Vietnam contest final, held in the coastal province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Friday, the hosts had to apologize to the audiences for announcing the wrong list of contestants who made it to the top 15.

The incident left masses of netizens with doubts about the apology, many arguing their opinion that it was probably a tactic intentionally employed for viral purposes.

Duong Thu Huong, head of the competition’s panel of judges, said the hosts mistakenly took the wrong list. She denied that it was done on purpose.

"The host’s mistake made me furious," she said. "As a renowned competition, we do not need those kinds of ‘low’ tactics."

The beauty pageant was also accused of applying an unfair rule during the interview sub-contest. Contestants were required to answer the same question one after one, however, those whose turns came later did not have to have their headphones on, which allowed them to hear other fellow contestants’ answers and have more time to prepare their own answers.

Huong justified that the rule protected the transparency of the sub-contest, as contestants knew the others’ answers and had the chance to show their own perspectives.

"Contestants were assessed based on various criteria including physical figures, facial features, language ability, background, and performing skills," she said. "The answers given in their interview sub-contest was merely one among many factors that decide whether a contestant deserves to be chosen or not."

Responding to the criticisms that the winner and the 1st runner-up of the contest won despite having unconvincing performances, Huong said everyone had their own disadvantages. She believed that the winners chosen by the judges will prove that they deserved to win in the coming time.

"Transparency was the thing that made me most proud of the contest," she stated.

This year’s Miss Ocean Vietnam final took place in the province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, with 30 finalists competing in sub-contests including swimsuit, night gowns, presentation, and interview.

The competition also gained attention for being held in the morning under the sun, making at least four among the 30 finalists suffer from symptoms of heat exhaustion.

Tran Thi Thu Uyen, 23, of the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, won the pageant title.