On the evening of June 19, Nam Anh and her younger sister, Nam Em, claimed the two highest positions at Miss Cosmo HCMC 2026. Nam Anh won the title of Miss, while Nam Em was named First Runner-up and also received the Miss People Choice award, voted by the audience.

The result sparked controversy because Nam Em is widely regarded as one of the most scandal-ridden figures in Vietnamese showbiz.

Scandals and publicity stunts

During the question-and-answer segment, Nam Em was asked: “If tomorrow all your titles, wealth, appearance, and fame disappeared, what would still make you worthy of being remembered?”

She replied: “What I hope people remember is how I stood up and came back stronger at Miss Cosmo HCMC. Only compassion, kindness, and the positive values we create for ourselves and our community are truly lasting and powerful.”

Coincidentally, one day before the Miss Cosmo HCMC 2026 finale, a series of social media videos suddenly appeared with messages such as: “Nam Em is not an exception in showbiz; her kindness has always left her a way back. Despite mental struggles, she has never deceived the public, acted immorally, or violated the law.”

Social media users have also frequently encountered videos praising Nam Em with captions such as “She possesses the charisma of a beauty queen” and “Sharp thinking combined with an outstanding singing voice.”

According to observations, these videos carried nearly identical content, differing only in editing style, and appeared simultaneously in coordinated waves.

Looking back at her public behavior, Nam Em has shown little evidence of the “compassion and kindness” she spoke of during the competition.

Most recently, she shocked the public with a story involving the death of a pet. In late April, after a cat relieved itself in the wrong place, she reportedly locked it inside a backpack for eight hours. When she finally opened the bag, she discovered that the animal had died.

When criticized online for animal cruelty and irresponsibility, Nam Em responded: “Everyone feels sorry for the cat, but who feels sorry for me?”

Throughout her career, Nam Em has been surrounded by an endless series of controversies. She is known for impulsive, erratic behavior and frequent emotional outbursts. Whenever criticism intensifies, she often appears in tears, speaks about mental health struggles, or posts photos from hospital visits.

During quieter periods in her career, Nam Em and a male companion repeatedly put their romantic relationship on public display. Their love affairs, arguments, breakups, reconciliations, and accusations were regularly broadcast through livestreams, drawing public attention and criticism.

From time to time, she has also used livestreams to criticize fellow entertainers. Content shared on her social media accounts, which have attracted hundreds of thousands of followers, has been accused of contributing negatively to the online environment.

In March 2024, she was fined VND37.5 million by the Department of Information and Communications for providing information that caused public confusion and for disseminating content deemed insulting to national figures and heroes, though not serious enough for criminal prosecution.

The following month, she received another administrative fine of VND10 million for similar conduct and faced recommendations that her social media accounts be restricted.

Ironically, after years of generating what critics describe as “online waste,” Nam Em appeared on the stage of a competition marketed as celebrating women, speaking about morality and praising herself for having “come back stronger” and possessing “compassion and kindness.”

Who enables Nam Em?

Nam Em’s career contains few notable achievements beyond participating in beauty contests and releasing a handful of songs that critics say showcased limited vocal ability.

In other words, despite spending many years in showbiz, it remains unclear what professional contributions she has made. She is difficult to classify as a successful singer, while her role as a beauty queen has not been associated with significant social contributions.

In reality, Nam Em’s formula is not new. She creates scandals to generate attention; when backlash follows, she apologizes, cites health issues, retreats from public view for a period, and then returns through new projects or activities, such as competing in Miss Cosmo HCMC, to rebuild her image.

What distinguishes Nam Em’s approach is her recurring narrative about mental health struggles. She has publicly stated that she suffers from bipolar disorder and depression, often using emotional personal stories that generate sympathy and encourage public forgiveness.

Mi Le