VietNamNet Bridge - Supermodel Tran Ngoc Lan Khue won the Miss Ao Dai Vietnam – Road to Miss World Crown at the contest's glitzy final in HCM City last night (January 5).

After beating 11 other finalists, the 22-year-old student of the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities will next represent the nation at the Miss World 2015 pageant, which is likely to be organised in the Philippines.

The two runners-up, Pham Hong Thuy Van and Nguyen Thi Le Quyen, will participate in the Miss Intenational and Miss Supranational pageants respectively.

The 1.76m-tall Khue, whose vital statistics are 84-60-88, had won the Vietnam Supermodel 2013 contest. She also finished among the top three at the Asian Supermodel 2012 contest in Nanning, China.

Her skills on the catwalk as a professional model and her inner confidence helped Khue to shine throughout the contest, as well as in the finale.

On being asked by actress and judge Truong Ngoc Anh ‘if you can change your past, what do you want to change,' Khue replied, "I've made mistakes quite often and always want to correct those mistakes. However, I think everything, good or bad, happens for a reason. The most important thing is that people can learn from their mistakes and become more ‘mature'. I appreciate all the lessons from the past. I will continue to try my best, and thus people can regard me as a person who works tirelessly till she reaches her goals."

Along with a crown that has four large pear-shaped amethysts and 150 diamonds, Khue also received VND1.1 billion (US$50,00) in cash.

However, the beauty queen said that she will use all the money for her upcoming charity activities dedicated to disadvantaged children across the country.

Thuy Van comes from HCM City. She was born in 1993, is 1.72 m tall, and has body measurements of 82-60-90. Along with Lan Khue, Thuy Van had a record of being in the top group of the competition six times. Thuy Van has shown her professionalism in all activities during the contest. Thuy Van is also fluent in English and she can sing, play music and write songs.

Le Quyen was born in 1993 in Bac Lieu. She is 1.73 m tall with body measurements of 80-59-89. She previously won the title Talented Supermodel of the Vietnam Supermodel 2013 contest. Quyen’s advantage is her sexy body and her great smile. However, she is not very good at English.

The stunning finale opened with a performance by all 12 finalists, who wore ao dai creations by designer Cong Tri.

Famous Vietnamese singers, including Hong Nhung, Tran Thu Ha and Van Mai Huong, as well as Ho Ngoc Ha and Uyen Linh, also performed on the stage.

Miss World 2011 Ivian Sarcos was a guest judge, while the permanent judges were director Nguyea(n Quang Duong, actress Truong Ngoc Anh and stylist Henry Hubert.

Organised as a reality television show, Miss Ao Dai Vietnam – Road to Miss World Crown attracted registrations by hundreds of young women. After the selections were held in Ha Noi and HCM City in September, 18 applicants were shortlisted to stay in a "beauty castle", where they were taught the skills required to be a professional model, including make-up, getting fit and an international code of conduct, over 10 weeks.

Cameras recorded all activities and reactions of the contestants 24x7, to give the audience a close-up view of their training process.

Jointly produced by Vietnam Television, the Miss World Organisation and the HCM City-based BHD Co Ltd, the 75-episode programme was broadcast daily on VTV6. 

VNS/VNN