VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese beauty at this year’s South African Miss World pageant is ready to perform in the Miss World Talent round - if she is picked.

Lines of ladies: Duong Truong Thien Ly (centre) at the Miss World competition. — File Photo

“Ly has registered with the organising board to play guitar and sing a jazz song,” said Thuy Nga, director of Elite Vietnam, which sent Ly to the contest.

Ly’s mother, My An, said her daughter started to take guitar lessons when she was small. “Even though she studies in the US, she still practises guitar when she returns to Viet Nam on summer holidays. Her guitar has been her closest friend in the US.”

Ly has also been trained by MC Thanh Bach to wow audiences by speaking about different topics while artist Bach Tuyet taught her to sing southern traditional folk songs in cai luong style (reformed opera).

“Ly has seriously prepared for all rounds at the contest,” An said. “But I don’t know whether she will have the chance to show it all off. I told her not to worry too much about the talent competition as it is optional. The important thing is that she can express her friendliness and introduce the cultural beauty of Viet Nam whenever she has the opportunity.”

Ly and Miss India were chosen as Asian representatives to thank the local authority and people of God’s Window when the delegation visited them on Monday.

Ly spoke to her family on the telephone, sending her thanks to people for voting for her at www.missworld.com and recounting how much she likes the cooking in South Africa.

Ly did not make the top 25 in the Beach Beauty round last Saturday, which was won by Miss Mexico. The next five winners of Miss Sport, Miss Top Model, Miss Talent, Miss Beauty with a Purpose and Miss People’s Choice will go through to the top 16 of the Miss World pageant contest.

(Source: Viet Nam News)