Vu Hoang Diep says a friendly attitude and confidence help win beauty pageants

Vietnam takes home its first top prize for a female model at an international beauty contest.

Before entering the contest, Diep was a popular fashion model and the runner-up at Vietnam Miss Sea 2007. Diep models for PL Company, one of the country’s premier modeling agencies, which chose her to participate in the event in China.

The 22-year-old, 1.74-meter model’s measurements, 84-60-90, make her a standout in any crowd, and it’s probably her confidence that put her over the top in the judges’ books.

Her brilliant and unforgettable face helped her win third place in the Miss Internet Popularity segment of the competition, which was voted on by Internet users. She also won the Miss Talent segment with her traditional non la (Vietnam’s traditional cone-hat) dance and was second runner-up for Miss Bikini.

Bring it on home

As it was the first time a female Vietnamese model won the highest prize at an international contest, Diep’s victory as queen of the Miss International Beauty was big not only for her, but also for her country. She burst out crying as soon as the results were announced.

“I am too touched to believe this is the truth; I’m crying tears of joy,” she said, adding that she would “bring the glory back home” to Vietnam.

The secrets

Diep said her secrets to success were not too complicated.

“Good preparations, I am in really good health… and staying confident until the end of the pageant. In the final round, besides my parents, my boyfriend’s presence also encouraged me tremendously.”

But Diep also had some outside help.

Her enchanting ao dai (Vietnamese traditional tunic) designed by Thuan Viet and her gorgeous evening gown from the Son Collection also helped Diep catch both the jury and the audience’s eyes.

“The beautiful Thuan Viet ao dai and Son Collections gown helped me a lot – they were even praised by the other contestants. It was exhilarating to here them say ‘Miss Vietnam’s ao dai is so charming!’”

The model said her make-up specialist Vinh GP also helped her a great deal, not only by making her beautiful, but his fluent Chinese helped her overcome the language barrier in the foreign country.

The key

Diep also said she learned a lot during the competition.

“A friendly, amiable attitude is very important,” she said. “This is the key that helps you shine and makes you noticeable in the very first rounds.”

The Miss International Beauty Pageant 2009 began in Urumqi, China on July 5. But due to sudden riots throughout the city, the event was moved first to Beijing, then to Heilongjiang Province’s Daquing City. Forty-two contestants from all over the world competed at the event.

The beauty contest was founded in 1973 by Louise Madlin, who is also the producer of Miss USA International and director of Miss California.

Started from a local beauty contest, the pageant began to gain high public attention from 1979 and became a world international contest with media coverage across the US, Canada, Mexico and other countries.

According to the website www.missinterbeauty.com, the pageant is meant to symbolize beauty, intelligence and love. It also aims to bring harmony and friendship for different nationalities across the world.

Reported by Da Ly