HCMC – Miss Grand International 2021 Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien was arrested on May 19 over allegations of consumer deception linked to the “Kera vegetable candy” scandal.
The 27-year-old beauty queen is under investigation for “deceiving customers” under Clause 2, Article 198 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.
The case also implicates several prominent figures, including social media influencers and senior executives from Asia Life Corporation and Chi Em Rot Group JSC, who are accused of producing and falsely promoting substandard health food products.
Investigators said the charges against Tien are linked to her role in promoting the “Kera vegetable candy” product, developed by Chi Em Rot Group JSC, where she held a 30% stake.
The candy, marketed as high in fiber, contained only 0.935% fiber, according to product testing reports. Despite being aware of this, Tien continued to promote the product on social media and in marketing campaigns, exaggerating its health benefits.
In February 2025, amid widespread social media backlash over the candy’s actual fiber content, Tien attempted to distance herself from her shareholder role by drafting a contract that redefined her involvement as that of an advertising partner rather than an investor.
More than 135,000 boxes of Kera candy were sold, generating nearly VND18 billion in revenue. Tien reportedly received close to VND7 billion in commissions.
