Dark-skinned Mai Phuong Thuy in a dark brown taffeta ao dai appeared as one of the last candidates in the northern region’s contest to choose a representative for the Miss Vietnam Beauty Contest.
In return for her dark skin, which was a disadvantage, Thuy had a tall and nice figure and a high nose ridge on a modernly beautiful face. Asked how sure she was of the prospect of her becoming Miss Vietnam, she answered, “100 %”.
She went to Nha Trang to compete against her one true rival, Luu Bao Anh, in the final round of Miss Vietnam. Anh was quite old, 24 years of age compared to Thuy’s 18 years. Anh didn’t have as good an academic “label” either. Luu Bao Anh studied at a private university, and knew Vietnamese and Chinese since she was half Chinese. Thuy, on the contrary, studied at a famous public school, Foreign Trade University, and her knowledge of English was superior.
However, Bao Anh was white-skinned; her nose, eyes and mouth were all perfect; the way she conducted herself attracted those who loved the simple beauty of traditional Vietnamese women. In general, Bao Anh appeared to be more suitable for the Miss Vietnam title. She looked sharper than Mai Phuong, but wasn’t as “western” as Ngoc Khanh (Mai Phuong and Ngoc Khanh were the previous Misses Vietnam).
In the mini-contests as well as in practice activities, all eyes focused on the two girls. Most people believed one of them would win the first prize and the other would be the second prize winner. There were several other beautiful faces with modest heights. Some who were as tall as 1.75 m or 1.76 m lacked pretty faces. So the fight was chiefly between Anh and Thuy.
The judges had different opinions about them. Thuy’s most ardent supporter was Judge Tra Giang, who said, "she looks attractively modern.” Judge Dieu Hoa praised Bao Anh as "having the qualities of a faithful, family woman.”
The two rivals were put into the same room. Their conduct to each other was thus the topic of general gossip. It was impossible to know whether they really liked each other, but they acted as if they did.
In Nha Trang, while reporters were given 3 USD meals, the candidates’ meals cost 23 USD. Their rooms were beautiful inside and outside. But they had to wake up at the crack of dawn, put on make-up, practice, take part in mini contests, and be recorded many times for TV. Once in a while there was a rumour that one of them had won some mini contest. The supposed winner felt distracted by excitement and the losers by disappointment. So pressure increased daily, especially for the competitive ones. When a girl showed friendliness, many instantly wondered whether she was just acting.
On the award night at Hon Ngoc Viet, reporters were talking and guessing about Luu Bao Anh and Mai Phuong Thuy. Some said Judge Cong Khe would certainly vote for the candidate coming from the south like him, and the traditional-styled Ha Giang didn’t like Thuy. Some reporters choose Bao Anh, pitying Thuy’s beautiful face and Foreign Trade University’s student “label.”
After the question-answer part, Bao Anh reportedly told Thuy, “You’ll be the second prize!" But Judge Dieu Hoa and Tra Giang realised that Bao Anh had lost her mettle right after Thuy won the mini title of Miss Internet.
So Mai Phuong Thuy won. Having received an 80-million dong grand prize at Miss Vietnam, she was given a grant of 20,000 USD to take part in Miss World. Luu Bao Anh spent 40 million dong of her prize on charities, whereas Thuy only gave a small portion. "I’m still in college, and have a lot of things to spend money on,” said Miss Vietnam. And while predecessors Mai Phuong and Nguyen Thi Huyen had packed very lightly for their international journey, Thuy brought a lot of clothes, which had to be numbered to avoid complete chaos.
In the 2004 Miss World contest, in response to the question, "What have you learned from your trip?” Nguyen Thi Huyen answered, “What I have learned is that I need to learn more.” Mai Phuong Thuy also said she had grown up a lot during the Miss Vietnam and Miss World contests. From an unknown girl, she became a nation’s symbol of beauty. The troublesome side of victory is still ahead for her to face and learn from.
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