VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese models are typically thought to earn an enormous income, but that has changed recently after top male model Vinh Thuy has been indicted for allegedly smuggling to earn extra money.

 

Thuy, 24, entered the Top 15 Mister International competition and won Mr. Photogenic International held in Taiwan in 2009. He has been valued for a perfect body and a handsome face, and was previously thought to earn a lot of money thanks to his reputation among the local fashion world.

 

Thuy, who was indicted two months ago for allegedly smuggling electronic items by plane from Australia into Vietnam, said it’s not easy to earn money in Vietnam’s modeling industry.

 

Some top models like Vu Thu Phuong, Ngoc Quyen, Thanh Hang, and Hoang Yen can earn US$10,000 a month, said Thuy Nga, director of Vietnamese Elite Model Management Company.

 

Tu, the director of New Talent, said, “Some award-winning beauties like Miss Vietnam 2010 Ngoc Han, Miss Vietnam 2008 Thuy Lam could be paid US$1,000 for each appearance on the catwalk.”

 

However, the price is only on paper. A manager of a well-known model management company, who requested anonymity, said, “That price is impossible on the domestic fashion market ... Some local models are even willing to perform free of charge to gain a reputation. The money is also shared with their managers with the rates of 50-50 or 70-30.”

 

Khac Tiep, director of Venus Company, said, “There is no fixed price list for local models. The remuneration mainly depends on their reputation, experience, and their negotiation with customers.”

 

Many models have to enter into fierce competition for advertisement contracts worth US$20,000, Nga said.

 

Super models not so super

 

He added that Thanh Hang, the leading supermodel in the current local fashion world, is believed to pocket US$10,000 per month from fashion shows excluding contracts for events or advertisements. Two other well-known models, Ngoc Quyen and Hoang Yen, can earn around US$4,000 to US$5,000 per month.

 

An average model earns between VND15 to 20 million per month, Tiep said.

 

Trang Tran, who has often been invited to participate in events and fashion shows, is regularly seen wearing off-the-rack clothes or domestic dress.

 

“I never spend over ¼ of my income on buying jewelry or brand-name products,” she said. “I occasionally borrow clothing from some designers for my performances.”

 

Source: Tuoi Tre/Dat Viet