Trans beauty queen’s company fined $2,300 for illegal contest

Nguyen Huong Giang, 32, founder of the Miss International Queen Vietnam. Photo from Giang’s Instagram

On Thursday, Nguyen Tan Kiet, head of the department of Arts under the HCMC Department of Culture and Sports, said Giang’s company, organizer of the 2023 Miss International Queen Vietnam, was fined for violating the culture and advertising law.

"The Department [of Culture and Sports] encourages individuals and organizations active in the field of arts and culture to follow authorities’ instructions, and contribute to making a healthy and fair environment. Violations will be punished strictly," Nguyen Tan Kiet said.

A representative of Giang's company reportedly attended a meeting with the HCMC Department of Culture and Sports and paid the fine.

"We admitted our mistake. This will serve as a chance for us to gain experience, in order not to violate the laws and better organize the event in the future," Giang said.

Giang, 32, winner of the 2018 Miss International Queen contest, is a singer, actress, and TV personality.

The 2023 Miss International Queen Vietnam was organized by Huong Giang’s company at the start of this year with seven episodes in the format of a reality TV show broadcast on YouTube.

This year's theme was "Brave Purple - The Color of Bravery," which aims to promote bravery among transgender contestants.

In February, Giang planned to hold an event to announce the top 20 contestants, but it was canceled.

According to the HCMC Department of Information and Communications, the organizer had applied for a license to hold the event but didn't submit enough documents.

This was the third edition of Miss International Queen Vietnam, which was founded in 2018.

This year’s winner, 23-year-old Nguyen Ha Diu Thao, will compete at a Miss International Queen pageant in Thailand in June if the contest is authorized.