Hoang Yen at last year’s Miss Universe Vietnam in Nha Trang, where she was the first runner-up

With her nomination for the Miss Universe 2009 pageant coming through, this young model’s career is on the boil.

Vietnam 2008, Vo Hoang Yen is inches away from becoming her country’s representative at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant in the Bahamas.

Standing 179 centimeters tall and measuring 90- 62-93, the 21-year-old model with a milky complexion and Western features was a natural for last year’s Miss World contest, but she turned the offer down as there would have been too little time to prepare.

Now she has four months to get fine-tuned for a shot at the universe, assuming the formalities go without a hitch.

“I feel so proud, so happy and excited. Representing Vietnam is more important to me than anything that’s gone before. It is really a great honor, and I will try my best to do my country proud,” Yen gushed.

She comes from a family of glamour queens. Yen’s eldest sister, Hoang Hoa, was the runner-up in the Miss Ao Dai contest back in 1995, and the other sister, Hoang Oanh, spent time as a professional photo-model.

They and the rest of Yen’s family were surprised and thrilled when they heard about her nomination for a tilt at the Miss Universe title.

Success has come early to Yen, yet without too much hype or hoopla, thanks to a strategy of concentrating on her strong points and diversifying into film and other areas rather than sticking solely to fashion.

She played a young model in the “A Cappella” television series in 2008, her sole venture into professional acting to date, and plans to give singing a serious go later this year.

Yen is a favorite with Vietnam’s fashion designers when they take their creations to the big international shows, and the spectators lining both sides of the catwalk think she’s special too. So far, her modeling has taken Yen to Ukraine, Japan and Spain.

According to the Hoan Vu Company, the local agent of the Miss Universe Organization, Yen is the right choice for Vietnam in this year’s competition. They put her up with the best in the world.

“Yen has what it takes to win, especially in the figure department,” said Diem Ly of Hoan Vu Co.

“We have just sent her full profile to the Miss Universe Organization so now we must wait for their official invitation, which we’ll need to get permission from Vietnam’s Performing Arts Department for Yen to compete.

“Maybe after the first of May, we’ll be able to announce our plans for getting Yen ready,” Ly said.

Yen has already rearranged her schedule and turned down several tempting offers so that she can keep her sights fixed firmly on the big moment four months down the track.

Like many others in the industry, in-vogue model Phi Thanh Van holds her junior colleague in high esteem.

“Yen started her catwalk career five years later than me. We get on really well when we’re away from the spotlight. She is friendly and not snobbish or picky at all, and she’s a sensible person too. I think her appearance is perfect,” she told Suc Song Moi magazine.

To Duc Hien, Yen’s manager and personal makeup artist, said everything about Yen is above-board.

“I like her character. We have something in common as we both have a fondness for che (sweet soup). We often stop in the street to buy some,” Hien told the same magazine.

Yen is still growing her modeling career and building up her image as sexy, youthful, lively and distinctive.

Her boyfriend, a businessman, buoys Yen up in her vocation and is her staunchest supporter in Yen’s quest for the Miss Universe title.

Miss Universe Vietnam 2008 was held in Nha Trang last June to select Vietnam’s representative for the Miss Universe pageant in the same location two months later. It was won by the singer and actress Thuy Lam.

Yen was the runner-up ahead of Duong Truong Thien Ly, who was selected to represent Vietnam in this year’s Miss World contest.

By Kim