VietNamNet Bridge – The Performing Arts Department has imposed a fine of VND30 million ($1,400) on Pham Huynh Tien, a model in HCM City, for participating in the Miss Asia pageant without permission.

Pham Huynh Tien

A few days ago, Tien posted photos taken at the pageant on her own Facebook and wrote that she was crowned the beauty queen at this competition, which was held in Australia recently.

The public was surprised because there had been no information in the media about Vietnam’s participation in this event.

Based on the information, the Performing Arts Department asked the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to punish the model under the current rules.

Under the rules, Vietnamese representatives at international beauty contests must be prize winners at local pageants and must have permission of the Performing Arts Department. Violators are subject to administrative fine from VND15 million to VND30 million.

Previously several models and celebrities were punished for the same violation. However, the fines seem to be too low.

Last October model Lam Thuy Anh was fined for illegally participating in the Miss Global Beauty Queen 2015 in South Korea.

In September 2015 model Nguyen Thi Quynh Nga illegally participated in the Miss Southeast Asia pageant.

In 2014, model Dieu Linh attended Miss Tourism International (the predecessor of Miss Southeast Asia pageant) without permission. She won the top award and was fined VND22.5 million.

Earlier, model Phan Hoang Thu had to pay fine of VND15 million for the same violation, also at this contest.

Thanh Van