The closed-door interview round of Miss Grand International 2026 took place on the afternoon of October 4. Contestants had only a few minutes before the judges to make the case for why they deserved the crown.

Most chose to recount journeys of overcoming adversity or emphasize their desire to make history for their countries. Vietnam’s representative, Emoura Pham, however, took a different approach.

Emoura Pham and her role as a ‘bridge’

Rather than listing her achievements, Emoura began by saying a contestant’s true value is reflected in how she behaves when the cameras are off - how she treats others, how she works and whether she consistently gives her best.

She noted that contestants arrive at the competition alone, without anyone beside them to rely on, and said she felt honored that many had turned to her for help.

The highlight of her interview came when she addressed Miss Grand International’s familiar “4Bs” criteria: beauty, body, brain and business.

“I believe I bring a fifth B to the organization, one that carries my personal identity, and that is bridge,” Emoura said.

She explained the choice through her own life story. Born in Thailand, raised in Vietnam and later spending 10 years in the United States, Emoura said Vietnam taught her to value family, connection and community, while the West taught her independence and how to speak up for herself.

She hopes to bridge the two cultures and help the competition connect with audiences in more countries.

The bridge also has a literal connection to a project her family is pursuing: building 100 bridges for local communities in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. So far, 18 have been completed.

At the end of her interview, the contestant, born in 2000, said what matters most is not necessarily the crown, fame, money or recognition, but loving others and sharing happiness together.

At a stage where many contestants focused on why they deserved to win, Emoura’s outward-looking perspective helped distinguish her. Her response was also seen as a smart way of connecting her personal values with qualities the competition seeks in its contestants.

Before the closed-door interview, Emoura had already reached the Top 15 in the talent competition, led voting in the Grand Day Experience and advanced to the Top 40 in the second round of the Country’s Power of the Year category, giving her a chance to secure a direct place in the Top 20.

Stories of overcoming adversity

Leading contender Jihan Dimack of Tanzania, 30, delivered an emotional interview.

She introduced herself as a model working mainly in China, where she regularly creates content and sells products online, while also aspiring to build a career in the fashion business.

Jihan said her parents separated when she was young, forcing her to start working early to support her siblings and family. She also experienced a violent environment and understood how deeply it could damage a person’s confidence.

For Jihan, family is everything, and she said she has always put them before herself.

She sought to persuade the judges with the message that regardless of what someone has endured, if they were born to do something, the moment will eventually come when they achieve it.

“This is my time,” she said, adding that if she won, it would mark Africa’s first Miss Grand International crown.

María Paula Berrio of Colombia has lived independently since she was 17. She has lived in the United Kingdom and France and backpacked alone across Europe, experiences that helped her become fluent in English and French.

She said peace begins within each individual and that education allows people to resolve problems without resorting to violence.

Ambitions to make history

Mexico’s Pety Juárez, 29, a doctor, conducted her entire interview in Spanish.

She runs a foundation focused on breast cancer prevention, detection and early treatment.

For Pety, a crown is not simply something to wear but a representation of values. If she wins, she hopes to continue spreading her healthcare message around the world while representing professional women who still dare to pursue their dreams.

She stressed that Mexico is eager to win its first Miss Grand International crown.

Micaela Viveros of Paraguay, 21, spoke about the pressure of following in the footsteps of a previous winner.

Paraguay won Miss Grand International in 2018 through Clara Sosa, and Micaela admitted that she had once hoped to outperform her predecessor.

She later realized, however, that she was different. Rather than trying to become Clara or anyone else, or striving for perfection, she simply wanted to become a better version of herself.

“I just want to be Micaela,” she said, while expressing her desire to create a new legacy for future generations of Paraguayan women.

Ximena Carrillo of Guatemala, 22, delivered a message that a person’s background does not determine the limits of their dreams.

She said that whether someone comes from a small or large country, and whether she is a working woman, a mother or a beauty queen, anyone can turn dreams into reality by remaining true to themselves and working hard.

Among the Asian contestants, Louise Chanthalangsy of Laos, 24, acknowledged that her English was not perfect but said she was improving every day.

Angelica Lopez of the Philippines, whose country currently holds the crown through Emma Tiglao, chose another way to make an impression by singing part of Top of the World.

The Miss Grand International 2026 semifinal will take place on October 7, followed by the final on October 10 in Thailand.

Results from the closed-door interview are among the key factors judges will consider when selecting the contestants who advance in the competition.

Huy Minh