LookAtVietnam – As many as 25 models throughout the country will strut their stuff in the final round of Supermodels Viet Nam 2009 in HCM City today.

Tortuous: Ben Tre Province native Nguyen Thi Khanh Ngan, who is 1.72m tall, is one of the brightest faces of this year’s Viet Nam Fashion Models Contest.

“Many models from Ha Noi and other northern localities have moved to HCM City to develop their career,” he says.

It marks a contrast to last year’s contest, when several models from the North bagged top prizes, including Pham Xuan Thu from Thai Binh (who won the Golden Supermodel Prize), Nguyen Quang Thinh from Hai Phong (Photo Supermodel Prize) and Nguyen Quang Giap from Ha Noi (Best Performance Supermodel Prize).

This year, out of a total 38 contestants from the North, only two have made it to the final. The annual national beauty contest is designed to provide opportunities for young people and those living in remote areas to become professional models.

Model behaviour

One young hopeful at the competition is Nguyen Thi Khanh Ngan, a 21-year-old from a village in Ben Tre Province.

“My competitors and I received encouragement from our province’s youth union to join the competition. We were trained by experienced artists in stage, make-up and design at home and HCM City,” said Ngan, one of the competition’s finalists.

Before entering the last round, the young women worked hard in regional finals to show off their talent and appearance, including both modern and traditional costumes as well as performance skills on the catwalk and in the studio.

“This year we have worked hard to provide amateur fashion models, particularly those living in remote areas who have no experience, the opportunity of entering the world of the catwalk,” said Nguyen Quang Minh, a member of the jury.

The deputy editor-in-chief of Nguoi Mau (Fashion Model), one of the city’s leading fashion magazines, said: “We also want to help fashion models become professionals in the trade, overcoming social bias against them.”

Ngan and other finalists will compete in fashion shows and dozens of cultural and charity activities before entering the final night, which is expected to begin at HTV Theatre on June 27.

The female models are at least 1.70m tall and the men 1.75m.

The top two women and men will receive valuable gifts and cash prizes of VND100 million (US$9,000) each.

The first runner-up will be awarded VND50 million in gifts and cash and the second runner-up will receive VND40 million.

The winners will take part in free training courses at home and abroad, receiving opportunities to compete international fashion models contests.

Organisers will also give prizes for the Best Photo, Best Appearance and Favourite Fashion Model for both male and female.

“I see the country’s fashion industry is new and growing but has created jobs for many people, mainly youth,” said Ngan, adding that she hopes the contest will help rural girls develop their career.

Supermodels Viet Nam 2009 follows the format of reality TV show America’s Next Top Model. It is organised by Thoi trang Tre (Young Fashion) magazine and HCM City Television. The competition’s main sponsor is the CT Group, a retail distributor in fashion based in HCM City.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News