In an official statement signed by organizing committee head Pham Duy Khanh, Miss Universe Vietnam 2026 said it had worked with relevant authorities in Hai Phong, where the final was held, and the judging panel to review and verify the incident.

The organizers also held direct discussions with both titleholders, who had publicly apologized for referring to other individuals in their private conversations.

Under the disciplinary decision, Quynh Anh is barred from participating in stage performances for six months from the date the decision takes effect.

The organizers said the measure was intended to reinforce responsibility in public statements and personal conduct while maintaining appropriate standards for individuals working in the beauty pageant industry.

Quynh Anh is also required to comply with any financial penalty imposed by the competent authorities under applicable law.

My Anh, meanwhile, has been suspended from stage performances for three months.

According to the organizing committee, the shorter suspension is intended to emphasize the responsibilities associated with holding a pageant title and encourage greater awareness of appropriate public conduct.

She must also pay a fine if the relevant authorities issue a formal decision requiring one.

The statement did not specify when the suspensions would take effect or disclose any financial penalty amounts.

The organizers said they would continue cooperating with the authorities to verify and address related matters. Decisions within the committee's jurisdiction would be based on pageant regulations and verified information.

Neither contestant was reported to have been stripped of her title.

Leaked messages trigger controversy days after crowning

The scandal began on October 12, when screenshots purportedly showing conversations from a private group chat involving Miss Universe Vietnam 2026 contestants and other individuals circulated widely online.

The messages allegedly contained disparaging remarks about people associated with the competition, including former titleholders, contestants and judges.

Among those reportedly discussed were Miss Universe Vietnam 2024 winner Ky Duyen, runner-up Hong Dang, businesswoman Lam Ngan and television presenter Thanh Thanh Huyen.

Some of the language attributed to participants was described as offensive and insulting, with Quynh Anh facing particular criticism over allegedly using profanity and harsh remarks about colleagues.

The organizers announced on October 12 that they had received feedback about the screenshots and were reviewing the allegations.

My Anh was the first of the two titleholders to issue a detailed public apology, posting a statement in the early hours of October 13.

"Once certain things have been said, regardless of the circumstances, they cannot be taken back as though they never existed," she wrote.

The 23-year-old said she had spent time reflecting on the messages and recognized that careless words could hurt others and undermine public trust, regardless of whether they were expressed privately or in an emotional moment.

She apologized to those affected, anyone hurt by the messages and supporters who had placed their trust in her.

My Anh also acknowledged that an apology could not immediately repair the harm or restore lost confidence.

She said she would focus on controlling her words and emotions, listening to criticism and demonstrating genuine change.

"Maturity is not about never making mistakes, but about having the courage to face them, take responsibility and truly change afterward," she wrote.

Quynh Anh responded on the evening of October 13, saying she had spent the previous two days reflecting on her conduct.

She acknowledged that some of her comments could have been expressed more carefully and with greater consideration for the feelings of those mentioned.

The newly crowned beauty queen apologized to the women involved, individuals and organizations that had supported her, and members of the public who had placed expectations on her.

She described the incident as a lesson in restraint, respect and responsibility.

However, her apology drew further criticism because she referred to her conduct in terms such as insufficiently careful expression and shortcomings rather than directly characterizing the messages as insults.

She also indicated that she hoped to clarify certain matters when an appropriate opportunity arose.

On October 15, during a media gathering involving the pageant's top five contestants, Quynh Anh and My Anh apologized directly to Hong Dang.

A video of the encounter circulated online, with some social media users describing the exchange as awkward and lacking sincerity.

Expert says private conversations do not excuse insulting others

The incident also renewed debate in Vietnam's entertainment industry about whether private online conversations should be judged differently from public statements.

Speaking to VietNamNet, communications expert Nguyen Ngoc Long argued that explanations such as careless wording or the private nature of a group chat should not be used to excuse derogatory remarks about colleagues.

He said messaging platforms provide convenient spaces for communication, but technology does not change the underlying nature of human behavior.

"The need to share feelings or the 'private' nature of a group chat cannot be considered reasonable grounds or justification for insulting or belittling colleagues," Long said.

He argued that disrespectful language remains disrespectful regardless of where it is expressed.

According to the expert, participants in private group chats can develop a false sense of security, believing that their messages will never reach a wider audience.

This perception may encourage people to relax their personal standards of conduct.

However, he warned that digital privacy is fragile, and a single screenshot can transform a private conversation into a public relations crisis.

Long emphasized that respecting personal privacy does not mean accepting privacy as a defense for conduct that violates appropriate standards of behavior.

He also described a principle he teaches in communications and crisis management: people should avoid saying things behind someone's back that they would not be willing to repeat directly to that person.

For public figures, he said, professional reputation and personal conduct remain closely connected, whether they are appearing on stage or communicating through a phone.

Rather than blaming technology or imprecise wording, he urged celebrities to acknowledge their statements directly and take genuine responsibility for them.

Previous private-chat controversies in Vietnamese entertainment

The Quynh Anh and My Anh scandal is not the first incident involving leaked private messages to provoke debate in Vietnam's entertainment industry.

In October 2023, singer Dinh Trang publicly accused members of Operaphilia, a 33-member music community group chat, of mocking and disparaging her.

She alleged that Lan Quynh, winner of the classical vocal category at the 2022 Sao Mai singing competition, attended one of her small concerts, recorded videos and shared them in the group for other members to ridicule.

Those named in the allegations included singers Ha My and Minh Man, along with Operaphilia group leader Luong Vu Hai.

The controversy attracted particular attention because Dinh Trang had previously supported Lan Quynh and provided free coaching during the 2022 competition.

Other artists, including singer Bao Yen, were also reportedly targeted in the group's conversations.

Lan Quynh subsequently apologized publicly but faced criticism for not directly apologizing to Dinh Trang.

Another controversy emerged in May 2021 when an anonymous account leaked screenshots and audio messages allegedly taken from a private group chat involving People's Artist Hong Van, People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi, singer Dam Vinh Hung and others.

An audio recording attributed to Hong Van was criticized for allegedly containing insulting remarks about audiences.

In her response, Hong Van characterized the messages as private exchanges among friends about personal views and emotions.

She also alleged that the leaked material had been edited or manipulated to damage her reputation and that of her colleagues, although the account cited by VietNamNet did not establish evidence supporting that claim.

Communications expert Long cited these incidents as examples of how private online discussions can generate significant reputational consequences when their contents become public.

Newly crowned winners face scrutiny over public image

Quynh Anh, born in 1999 and originally from Hanoi, entered Miss Universe Vietnam 2026 with an established career in modeling and beauty competitions.

Standing 1.75 metres tall, she was runner-up on The Face Vietnam 2018, won Supermodel Me 2021 and finished as first runner-up at Miss Universe Vietnam 2024.

Returning to the competition two years later, she received the crown from Ky Duyen on October 2 and secured the opportunity to represent Vietnam at the 75th Miss Universe competition, scheduled for November in Puerto Rico.

Shortly after her victory, she returned to Hanoi to mourn the death of her grandmother.

My Anh, also from Hanoi and born in 2003, previously earned the Miss Earth Water title at Miss Earth 2025 before becoming first runner-up at Miss Universe Vietnam 2026.

Their suspensions come less than a month after their crowning and represent the first formal disciplinary action announced by the pageant organizers in connection with the leaked conversations.

Although the organizers have now outlined sanctions for both women, questions remain about the precise effective dates, any financial penalties and the outcome of the authorities' continuing review.

The controversy has also highlighted a broader challenge for beauty pageant titleholders: balancing the right to private communication with the expectations of professionalism, respect and accountability that accompany a public title.

Tu Lien - Minh Phi