VietNamNet Bridge – The Miss World 2008 pageant will start in South Africa in a little more than one month but Vietnam is still seeking a representative.

From the left: First runner-up Minh Thu, Miss Vietnam 2008 Thuy Dung and second runner-up Thuy Van.

Thuy Nga, Executive Manager of Elite Vietnam, the organisation that holds the right to send Vietnamese contestants to this pageant, talked with VietNamNet about this.

Many people feel regret that neither of the two runners-up of Miss Vietnam 2008 pageant, Minh Thu and Thuy Van, will be chosen for Miss World 2008. As manager of Elite Vietnam, you are very close to fashion activities and beauty contests. What is your opinion about this?

The Performance Art Agency (which licences Vietnamese contestants to participate in international beauty contests) has issued an official dispatch about this and we respect the agency’s opinion. Our duty is to seek a face who deserves to represent Vietnam at this year’s contest in South Africa.

Miss Vietnam Global 2007 Ngo Phuong Lan, who is praised for both beauty and knowledge, has refused to participate in this contest. Could you reveal the reason for her refusal?

We highly appreciate Ngo Phuong Lan for her beauty, knowledge, living style and communication skills. I had a good impression of her after we talked last year about nominations for Miss World 2007. She was very imperturbable, street-wise, courteous and correct. But she had the final answer and we respect her decision.

Elite Vietnam will have to choose some winners of recent national-scale pageants to submit to the Performance Art Agency. Is it worried that these beauties will be passive or unable to bear this great responsibility – representing Vietnam at an international pageant? What is you opinion?

Contestants of the Miss World pageant must be among the three top winners of national beauty contests. Girls who are the winners of national pageants are eligible to become contestants of Miss World pageant. When they win titles at beauty contests, they must be beautiful and talented.

Vietnamese contestants have been late to Miss World pageants several times and if the search for a representative is not sped up, it could happen again. When will Elite Vietnam complete this task?

In the past, most beauty contests in Vietnam were organised at the year’s end. In recent years, Miss Vietnam pageants have been organised earlier (in August) to enable contestants to prepare for the Miss World pageant. We see that as a great effort of organisers. We are trying to quickly finish the nomination list to submit to the Performance Art Agency and the Miss World organising board.

If Vietnam doesn’t have a contestant at Miss World 2008, will Elite Vietnam have to pay a fine or any kind of fees? And will it be difficult for next year’s contest?

If Vietnam doesn’t participate in the contest, it will affect Vietnam’s prestige and its ability to participate in Miss World pageants in the future as well as the results of Vietnamese contestants in the future.

Son Ha