Fan pressure didn't affect Miss Grand Vietnam: director

Dung told NgoiSao Monday that the fans of the popular 28-year-old Phuong, who will also represent Vietnam at the Miss Grand International pageant held this October, badgered contest organizers to give her the crown on social media platforms prior to event’s final night.

"I felt glad reading those enthusiastic comments, as I saw how much people loved a competent contestant like Phuong," Dung said. "That showed how much they appreciated Phuong."

She went on to explain that there was plenty of reason for Phuong’s adulation.

"This [the 2023 Miss Grand Vietnam contest] is not the first time Phuong has competed as a favorite in a beauty pageant," she said. "But her English abilities, physical figure and performance skills are even better now."

According to Dung, Phuong’s determination towards self-improvement had already impressed the judges and made her a prominent candidate for the crown, so pressure from fans on the internet didn’t have much effect.

Dung added that 90% of the judges chose Phuong because of her outstanding physique, beauty, intelligence, and business sense.

Responding to some critics that said Phuong seemed old [compared to other contestants], Dung said: "A woman’s beauty is not about her age."

"She is a beautiful 28-year-old woman, and already runs a successful business with her friends and partners."

Dung also said Phuong spoke entirely in English to the judges during her private interview sub-contest, proving that her language skills were good enough to compete at international beauty contests.

Miss Vietnam 1992 Ha Kieu Anh, head of the 2023 Miss Grand Vietnam panel of judges, confirmed Dung’s views, saying the judges found Phuong to be an inspirational woman who was always willing to learn new things, and she knew how to control the stage.

Anh also denied lingering rumors that Phuong had been pre-chosen as the contest winner prior to the final competition.

"The judges debated a lot to reach a final decision about Phuong’s performance," she said. "Phuong’s title is the result of the judges’ agreement. I believe Phuong will be a prominent contestant at the 2023 Miss Grand International contest."

Phuong, from the coastal province of Khanh Hoa, made it to the top 10 of the 2019 Miss Universe Vietnam contest and the top 5 of the 2022 Miss Universe Vietnam pageant. She is currently the CEO of an architecture company.