LookAtVietnam – Hopefuls Truong Thi May, Huong Giang and Vinh Thuy will represent Vietnam at the world’s most prestigious beauty pageants this November.

Huong Giang.

Earlier, this year, Vietnam sent Vo Hoang Yen to the Miss Universe 2009 in Bahamas and Nguyen Thai Ha to Miss Tourism Queen International 2009 in China. Neither won.

Meanwhile,in lesser competitions, Vu Hoang Diep was the beauty queen of the Miss International Beauty in China and Chung Thuc Quyen took the Miss Talent and Best in Traditional Costume at the Miss Supernational pageant.

This November, the three remaining major beauty contests of the world will be held, including Miss World, Miss Earth and Miss International.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism permitted the second runner up of the Miss Vietnam Global 2009 Tran Thi Huong Giang to join the Miss World pageant in South Africa and the first runner up of the Miss Vietnam Ethnic 2007 Truong Thi May to go to the Philippines for Miss Earth 2010.

Truong Thi May and Vinh Thuy.

Increasingly, however the question of finance is being raised. One nameless beauty who participated in an international contest said that after the event, she owed over 100 million dong ($6,000) because she had to pay for air tickets, clothes, cosmetics and gifts for other contestants.

A fashion designer who went to several international beauty pageants with Vietnamese contestants said the minimum expenditure to send a representative to an international beauty contest is around 500 million dong ($29,000). It comprises around 100 million for clothes, 200 million for publicity and photos and 100 million for miscellaneous expenses.

Mister International 2008 Tien Doan said he had to cover all expense for the Mister International contest. However, he sought some sponsors.

When invited to take part in international beauty contests, some models asked the organisers to cover trip fees. Others who couldn’t afford the trip because they didn’t have sponsors had to refuse.

VietNamNet/TT&VH