HCMC – Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien from HCMC was crowned Miss Grand International 2021 in the final night in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday, becoming the first Vietnamese to win this pageant.
Tien took home the crown after beating Stephanie Mercedes Medina from Ecuador in the Top 2 final-question round, during which they explained why they should win the title.
“I have to be honest that I didn’t think I would be standing here. I’m very nervous right now. But I’m ready to work. I’m ready to be in Thailand for one year,” she said.
The finalists were representatives from Brazil (second runner-up), Puerto Rico (third runner-up), and South Africa (fourth runner-up).
Besides, Miss Grand Thailand won the Best in Evening Gown award, while representatives from Malaysia, Peru and Angola won Best in National Costume, and Miss Grand Puerto Rico was named Best in Swimsuit and Miss Grand Cambodia brought home the most popular vote award.
Tien stood out from other candidates thanks to her fluency in English, confidence, excellent communication skills and positive energy.
Advancing to the Top 5, she was asked: “With the current world situation, there are many problems such as those related to human rights and economy. If you choose one person to discuss the problems in order to make the change, who will you choose and why?”
Tien said she would like to talk to the woman who invented the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.
“She doesn’t need money from her invention and I’m grateful for that. Sometimes you need to do the good things but don’t need to be given the credit for them.”
Earlier that night in the Top 10, Tien shared her view about peace: “Peace is like the air around us. We live with it everyday, we think about it everyday, but somehow we assume that protecting it is not our responsibility… I’m standing here for the ones who feel neglected and abandoned… Please let the love and sympathy raise in your inner self so that war and violence cannot happen…”
Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien was born in 1998 in HCMC. She is 1.71 meters tall and weighs 52 kilograms, with the body figure of 83-62-92 centimeters.
Tien grew up without her parents who divorced when she was only four years old. She studied at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – HCMC and has special interest in music and dancing.
“Growing up without my parents is the most important thing that makes me become the girl I am today – strong, independent, sociable and positive. When I was young, sometimes I was sad and feel neglected… but living with the lack of love teaches me how important love is so that I always want to spread love and be kind to everyone,” she said.
Founded in Thailand in 2013, Miss Grand International is one of the six major global beauty contests held annually, together with Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss Earth and Miss Supranational.
