VietNamNet Bridge – A contestant of the Miss Ethnic Vietnam 2013 pageant has confessed to be incited by a makeup artist to release rumors that Ngoc Anh – the winner – paid VND1.5 billion for the crown and having an affair with the 15-year-old son of Mrs. Doan Thi Kim Hong, the deputy chief organizer.

Miss Ethnic Vietnam 2013 Ngoc Anh.

Thoong Cooc Dinh, one of two Chinese-origin candidates entered the finals of the Miss Ethnic Vietnam 2013 contest, was suspected as one of those who diffused the rumors related to beauty queen Ngoc Anh and other bad rumors about the pageant, which took place in Hoi An in late June.

In a report to the pageant organizers dated July 8, Thoong Cooc Dinh confessed that she was motivated by the contest’s makeup artist, Tran Anh Kiet, to tell others rumors about the contest.

"On June 30, I joined a meeting with some others. When people asked me what I had heard about the contest, I said I had heard rumors that Miss Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh paid VND1.5 billion for the crown. I did not intend to denounce anyone, just speaking out rumors," Thoong Cooc Dinh said.

Competing at the Miss Ethnic Vietnam twice, Dinh confirmed that she attended the pageant completely voluntary, not be “forced” to take part in the event as rumors.

"The competition was completely transparent. There was no prize purchasing or contestants having sex with the organizers and the judges as rumored," Dinh added. She also apologized to the organizers and Miss Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh.

Contestant Thoong Cooc Dinh.

Another contestant - Tran Trieu Vu Thu – Miss Photo of Miss Ethnic Vietnam 2013 – also told the organizers that makeup artist Tran Anh Kiet was the one behind this case.

Kiet denied the accusation of Thu and Dinh, saying that he did not have any motive-force to do that. "I will hire a lawyer in order to claim the honor for me," he said. He revealed to have many “sensitive” text messages of Thong Cooc Dinh which were sent to other contestants.

Earlier, Mr. Nguyen Dang Chuong, head of the Performing Arts Agency, Vice chief of the Steering Board of Miss Ethnic Vietnam 2013 pageant and Mrs. Kim Hong, the deputy chief organizer, confirmed that the pageant was transparent and the rumors were "completely fabricated."

The organizing committee stated that they had asked the police’s intervention.

T. Van