What do a wife and mother, a model, an actress, a celebrity columnist, an aspiring business woman and an ex-cop have in common? They’re the same person!

Still, family life alone is not enough to satisfy this obviously ambitious thirty-year-old, who was a police officer for years before becoming a fashion model.

Yen Ngoc’s first taste of modeling success and indecision about her future came with her second place in the 2000 Miss Photography contest run by The Gioi Phu Nu (Women’s World) magazine.

She was a policewoman at the time and found herself torn between the duties of the cop shop and the lure of the catwalk. Eventually she chose the latter.

Nearly ten years later, Ngoc has certainly built up an interesting resume.

In 2004 she became one of Vietnam’s first professional models to act in films by landing a cameo role in Vu Ngoc Dang’s ultimately successful Nhung co gai chan dai (Leggy girls).

She followed up this initial foray the following year by playing the main character in 1,735 km opposite male model Khanh Trinh. The film was shot mostly on a train traveling the length of Vietnam, hence the title.

While the 2005 film fared poorly at the box office, Ngoc says she gained valuable experience and insight from playing the character Tram Anh.

After several roles in TV series, she accepted an invitation to write a celebrity column for Nguoi Mau (Models) magazine.

“I’ve always loved writing but, in ten years of modeling, I had neither the time nor the opportunity to pursue it.

“When Nguoi Mau asked me to write a column, I was nervous but decided to take the chance as, after ten years in that milieu, I had so much pent-up emotion I wanted to express.

“Now I find that the more I do, the more I love this job.

“When I pen my columns, I say what I feel. When I no longer feel any rapport with the celebrities I interview, I will stop writing.”

What they call a left-handed job in Vietnam is just one of this versatile woman’s passions. Though she’s given up the catwalk, she still does photo shoots in between acting, writing, homemaking and child rearing.

Married life is good and she gets lots of love and sympathy from her easy going husband. Even so, she admits to feeling as wedded to her work as to her husband.

“He understands me and mostly lets me do what I like. We trust each other. He only gets annoyed when I ignore my health.

“And he does not mind seeing me in revealing clothes on the cover of a magazine, and even praises my fashion sense. He knows I’m not a tramp.”

Ngoc sees herself as stubborn and headstrong, as someone who does what she likes. She’s organized, and scoffs at suggestions her schedule is hectic.

“My work is not as busy as it looks. I still have time to take care of my family and spend time with my friends. It’s a good thing that my husband and I know how to arrange our work schedules to get the most out of life.”

“When my daughter was a month old, I took her with me when I went out with friends and tried to be by her side as much as possible. Although I like my different jobs, I love spending time with my small family.”

Ngoc is currently making a 73-episode television series for Vifa Film called Dong song huynh de (River of bros) and a film titled Nhom manh ho ngan long son, based on the best-selling children’s detective novel A Mystery for You and the Tiger Team by the Austrian writer Thomas Brezina.

Whether modeling, acting or writing for the magazine, she is passionate about her work. She finds acting the hardest to do as it needs the skills of many professions.

Ever on the lookout for new horizons, Ngoc would like to start her own business, though not yet.

“Years of artistic work have taught me patience and moderation. I have many ideas for a future business but for now I’m keeping them a secret. I’ll know when the time is right.”

Reported by Thuy Vi