As child modeling contests gain popularity in Vietnam, questions are growing over how early children should enter showbiz - and how to protect their innocence amid competition, rankings and titles.
Keeping titles from taking away childhood innocence
Model Kid Vietnam 2026 mentors TyhD, runner-up Quynh Anh and beauty queen Bui Quynh Hoa (from left).
Model Kid Vietnam recently returned, attracting hundreds of contestants aged 5 to 13. Through a series of performance challenges, the children have opportunities to build confidence, develop teamwork skills and express their personalities in front of the camera.
The program, first launched in 2019 for children interested in fashion and modeling, features six episodes in its 2026 season. Its three mentors are beauty queen Bui Quynh Hoa, runner-up Quynh Anh and model TyhD.
The mentors directly guide contestants through each challenge and closely follow them throughout filming. Quynh Anh said she places particular emphasis on keeping the children natural rather than forcing them into a fixed mold.
For Bui Quynh Hoa, the result of any individual round should not be treated as a measure of a child's ability.
“Being eliminated does not mean a child is not good enough. It simply means they were not the right fit at that particular point in the competition. To keep them from feeling upset, I usually try to talk to them and understand them better,” she said.
Several promising contestants with strong potential have emerged among the top 15.
TyhD acknowledged that competition among the teams is difficult to avoid, particularly when mentors want to protect their own contestants. However, all three agreed that disagreements among adults should never be allowed to affect the children.
“Having taken part in many reality television shows, I understand that a single comment made on stage can stay on a child's mind for a long time,” TyhD said.
According to the mentors, results and titles are only one part of the journey. More importantly, the children should come away with positive experiences and greater confidence, without feeling that they have to prove themselves through achievements.
As the competition progressed, the top 15 emerged, featuring several notable contestants. They include Tran Bao Nam, who has appeared in a number of Vietnamese prime-time television dramas, including Tram cuu ho trai tim, Nguoi mot nha and Lo hen voi ngay xanh; Lam Nhi, who comes from a family with an artistic tradition and has trained in circus performance since childhood; and Bui Ngoc Khanh An and Nguyen Moc Lam Anh, who have large fan bases and have repeatedly topped audience voting rankings.
Child models and the line between training and entering showbiz too soon
The organizers encourage contestants to express their personalities freely while ensuring that their performances remain age-appropriate.
Mentor TyhD takes contestants on a visit to the Independence Palace.
Speaking to VietNamNet about the boundary between training child models and exposing children to the entertainment industry too early, producer Trang Le said Model Kid Vietnam aims to provide a space where children can experience activities related to modeling while ensuring that these remain appropriate for their age.
According to Le, the program does not aim to turn contestants into professional models at a young age. Instead, its challenges are designed to give children opportunities to discover their abilities, personalities and interests.
“We emphasize that the children should not have to force themselves. They should remain innocent and carefree, as children their age should be. They don't need to try to become professional models. The most important thing is for them to retain the innocence and playfulness appropriate to their age. That is also what the organizers aim for,” a program representative said.
The producer also highlighted the diversity among contestants, including differences in where they come from, their ages and personalities. During the competition, the children may experience a wide range of emotions as they confront challenges, results or situations they have never encountered before.
Families also play an important role in accompanying and supporting the children throughout the competition. Beyond performance skills, mentors provide guidance on age-appropriate clothing and posing, while working with parents to limit experiences that may be unsuitable for the children.
The organizers believe that training child models involves more than developing stage skills. It also means helping children understand themselves and grow as individuals. Feedback from mentors is intended as a tool to help them improve rather than as a source of pressure to achieve.
“A title is only an added advantage in the next stage of each child's journey,” the program representative said.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
