VietNamNet Bridge - Supermodel Ngo Tien Doan beat out 33 other contestants to take the crown for the Mister International 2008 contest in November last year in Taiwan. He talked about the contest.

Can you tell me a little about how you are dealing with your duties for Mister International? What are the difficulties or advantages of your new role?

During my first days in this shopping paradise, my work is not at all complicated. I have received special care for my hair, skin, clothes and everything, even “up to my teeth.” I have been equipped with sufficient knowledge on some countries where I will visit this year, so I can behave properly there. I think this is simple enough work that anyone can do.

After attending male pageant contests like Manhunt International, Mister International and working with international models, how do you think the Vietnamese modelling career differs from other countries?

I think Vietnamese modelling has been formed and developed in a fairly short time in comparison with other more developed countries. We have recently recognised modelling as a career. Hence, we have not invested much in it. That’s why we cannot expect to have as professional and successful modelling career as people do in other countries.

We have the advantage that we can follow the path other more developed countries have already figured out for this career. Yet, the difficult thing here is that there is a big gap between our culture and the cultures in other developed countries. Because of that, despite our great efforts, we cannot make a breakthrough like models in those countries.

The positive thing I have to mention here is our passion for the career. We, as Vietnamese models, have been trying our best to develop Viet Nam’s fashion brand.

What is your plan this year as Mister International in Singapore? Is the task challenging to you? If it is, how will you overcome the challenges?

In this year, I don’t plan anything by myself. The Mister International organisation does that for me. The plan includes advertising the image of my homeland and the title that I have won. I will also attend charity works throughout the world and in Viet Nam as well. And there are many more tasks that I cannot tell you now.

These are what I have never done before, and I have not thought of doing those things either. Yet, I will try my best, because not every young person has such a golden chance to make such contributions.

Reviewing your success at Manhunt International 2007, in which you won the Best Body award, Mister International 2008 and fashion shows across the country, what do you think made you successful?

I think, to achieve any success, we need time to properly prepare for that. I think I have prepared well to achieve such progress. I think we can trust any Vietnamese contestants, when they compete at any pageant contest unless they do not have enough time to prepare. They are not to blame, if they have only few days to prepare before the events.

Will you continue to work as a lecturer at Can Tho University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering after you finish Mister International mission this year?

Teaching is a long-term career, which I should continue beside modelling. Because I love teaching very much, I will continue the work as long I can.

What’s your idea on an ideal woman? Have you found her yet?

The ideal woman in my eyes is not Miss World or Miss International or anyone, but she is simply my lover.

Love can perfect all drawbacks, reconcile differences and can turn her into my ideal woman.

I really don’t have any criteria for an ideal lover. If you want to know, I can tell you based on my ex-lover’s characteristics. She is not too beautiful, but she’s intelligent, which helped her know how to make her more beautiful in other people’s eyes. She struggles much in her life, knows how to love and be loved.

(Source: VNS)