Publicity shot of Phi Thanh Van

Cosmetic surgery is the recipe for success if the story of this famous model-turned-actress is anything to go by.

The 26-year-old with a big bust, straight nose and attractive figure talks frankly about the cosmetic surgery that has made her a star.

“I see nothing wrong in artists undergoing cosmetic surgery as long as they don’t abuse it. No one can laugh… it’s a personal matter,” she said.

“In fact, it’s essential. Talent is not enough. You need to look seductive if you want win over the crowd,” said the woman who is called Nguoi dep dao keo (Cosmetic surgery beauty).

“I was a model who wanted an acting and singing career. I had no choice but to become beautiful.

“Some keep their surgery secret as they don’t want to be an object of ridicule in the gossip columns, whereas strong personalities like me can speak publicly about it easily.

“I used to be a mediocre model. Without cosmetic surgery, I would never have achieved stardom.”

Her credo? “When outward form does not match the content, change the form, not the content.”

All her cosmetic surgery has been done in Vietnam. So far it has set her back around VND100 million (more than US$5,600), and perhaps that figure won’t grow much from here.

“I know when to stop so as not to become addicted to it,” Van said.

She pities the many beautiful women who keep having operations to stay abreast of the latest fads only to end up with ruined faces and bodies.

Van’s recognizable face and bronzed skin have become fixtures on magazine covers, on the catwalks at fashion shows, and on television.

To her there is nothing more important than keeping in the public eye.

“It’s a matter of life and death to me. If I appear less often in the magazines, on TV, on stage and all that, my name will be forgotten.

She’ll consent to any interview whether it’s with an established reporter or a hack. She even suggests topics for them to write about.

“I realize I run out of things about myself to tell the reporters, so I do new things for them to write about, like diving and boxing courses.

“I often wonder why I want fame that much. I only know what fuels me is burning ambition,” Van said.

“I was born unattractive and wasn’t what you might call an ideal candidate for the stage. If I weren’t persistent, I wouldn’t achieve what my heart desires.”

Proving to the world that she could act was not as straightforward as she thought it would be.

Directors refused to give Van any roles at first, but she kept on pushing and pushing until they finally relented. Since then she’s landed plenty of roles, and her acting has improved too.

She played Phuong Trinh, the catty secretary full of envy in the 169-episode Co gai xau xi (Ugly Girl) adapted from the popular American sitcom “Ugly Betty.”

Van’s role was an instant hit with viewers when the series premiered and, in her opinion, showed the media that she might be “crazy” but she sure has talent.

At the moment she is shooting a television series called Thien than ao trang (White-bloused angel) by director Le Hoang, who gave Van her debut role in his 2004 hit Lo lem he pho (Bar girls 2).

She plays a strict, demure school principal, a far cry from Trinh, the secretary.

“Unlike my boisterous, humor-loving appearance, I’m serious in everything I do. Hoang has known me since I was 20. He was the first director to give me a role. I often confide in him. He knows there’s another person inside me and wants to exploit that. He simply says, ‘I know you can do it.’”

Van is also interested in playing a woman who lives a double life in a film directed by Minh Chung.

Lately she has been singing too. “I love singing and can make money from it. So, why not?”

Van was born in Hanoi but moved with her family to Ho Chi Minh City in 1990.

She started acting on stage when she was 12, always playing the witch while her good looking friends were the queens and princesses.

She took up modeling in 2000 and, three years later, had her first cosmetic surgery procedure in which her breasts were augmented.

A prize in the 2004 Supermodel contest followed, and Van was off and running.

Since then she has modeled in Europe and the US and even appeared in Vogue.

Besides modeling and acting with a little singing on the side, Van hosts the fashion show Con duong thoi trang and other programs on the Style TV channel.

Reported by Hai Mien