MISS UNIVERSE 2005: Vietnamese beauty ready for the big time
Published on May 15, 2005 - Hang hopes her presence at the pageant will help attract tourists to her homeland
Pham Thu Hang is only the second Vietnamese to enter the Miss Universe competition.
“The concept of the Miss Universe beauty pageant is still pretty new to Vietnam. It is good for Vietnam to be involved in the world’s biggest beauty pageant, especially for Vietnamese tourism. I’m proud and very happy to represent my country,” Hang said.
Competing with 25 other beautiful Vietnamese women, Hang was crowned Miss Universe Hanoi-Vietnam on May 1 in an event organised by the Hanoi Cultural Fund and Thai contractor Kalawin International Fashion School. Kalawin has been involved in beauty pageants since the 1992 Miss Universe competition and is sponsoring Hang’s involvement in this year’s competition.
According to Kalawin’s president Thasani Siriyeum, this year’s competition for Miss Vietnam Universe improved considerably on last year’s ceremony in terms of its size and the significance given the event by the government through the Hanoi Cultural Fund.
“Vietnamese people are also excited about the contest and are waiting to see me appear on the world stage,” Hang said.
At 1.77 metres tall and with measurements of 86-62-96, Hang also captured the best-body prize in the Vietnamese pageant.
The 21-year-old beauty lives in Hanoi, where she is in her third year of business-management studies at the Asian Research Institute.
“I want to become a successful businesswoman. I will make a good living in this area because Vietnam has a fast-growing economy and foreign investment is booming,” Hang said.
Kalawin designed Hang’s evening dresses, while the Barbizon Personal Development School provides her with advice on comportment.
“Hang already has beauty and an impressive smile. She’s quite tall, so I am teaching her how to adopt the right posture to walk on stage,” Kaldaporn Siriyeum, the school director, said.
Meanwhile Hang said she had adopted some Thai customs in her style of conduct.
“I have felt even more confident since I went to pay homage to King Rama I and His Majesty the King, who are really honoured by Thais. I think it is good for my spirit,” says the Vietnamese beauty queen.
Hang plans to represent her home country on stage by wearing the ao dai, a traditional Vietnamese costume, while she will also be appearing in glamorous Thai-silk gowns with intriguing designs by Kalawin.
For the big day, Hang has chosen an evening gown made from pink Hang Kra-rok silk from the Bangsai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts centre. The dress was designed by Kalawin’s president, who designed several silk dresses for the current Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins.
Pathomkanok Barnes
The Nation |
