Vietnam May Not be Represented in Miss World 2008

Vietnam is getting little attention lately from the beauty pageant fans all over the world. Thanks to the controversy involving the winner of Miss Vietnam 2008 who apparently did not finish high school. Pageants have a tall order on this qualification. A candidate should at least a high school graduate. 

I remember last year, the Philippine representative to Miss World, Margaret Wilson, was initially questioned by some. Apparently, she did not finish high school but it turned she did.

Going back to Miss Vietnam, since the winner Tran Thi Thuy Dung (left picture) does not meet this criteria, Vietnam is in dilemma. They are not sure whether their country will be represented in the Miss World 2008 or not.

It was approved that Vietnams's representative to the Miss Universe 2008 - Nguyen Thuy Lam - which incidentally took place in Vietnam will represent this country in Miss World but because of a commitment with her studies, she can't make it now.

Thuy Lam (right picture) is the first Vietnamese to penetrate a semi-final slot in the Miss Universe pageant but she failed to advance to Top 10. She is one of the only two Asians in the semi-finals along with Miss Japan Hiroko Mima. She was also in the Top 10 Best in National Costume chosen by Vietnamese judges.

Here is the latest news whether Vietnam will be seen in Miss World 1008 pageants or not.

Vietnam may or may not be at Miss World

Elite Vietnam, the company authorized to nominate the country’s contestants to Miss World, said it was unsure whether either one of Vietnam’s two nominees would be chosen as the deadline is almost up and all of the contest’s spots may have already been filled.

The company has nominated the three finalists of Miss Universe Vietnam 2008.

But the event’s first place winner, Nguyen Thuy Lam, has said she is too busy to vie for a spot at Miss World, citing her studies and the upcoming release of a studio album as the reasons.

Miss Universe Vietnam’s first runner-up Vo Hoang Yen and second runner-up Duong Truong Thien Ly have now had their names submitted to Miss World for consideration.

Miss World 2008 will take place November 16 to December 12 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Department of Performing Arts approved Elite’s nomination of the Miss Universe Vietnam winners last Monday.

The body had previously disqualified the winners of Miss Vietnam 2008 from participating in Miss World after Miss Vietnam organizers were accused of violating event regulations by allowing contestants – including the event’s winner Tran Thi Thuy Dung – to participate without a high-school diploma.

Reported by Da Ly