Voice – not looks – matters the most to a singer, Kelly Clarkson told a press meeting in Ho Chi Minh City before performing at the Miss Vietnam 2014 finale this weekend. 

Clarkson, who won the first season of the much-loved singing reality show “American Idol” in 2002, said Tuesday that her voice – not her appearance – is her strength.

The American singer arrived in the city along with her husband, young daughter and crew on Monday afternoon to prep for her performance on Saturday night.

At the press conference, Clarkson struck everyone present as a witty, adorable woman.

Her visit to Vietnam is one of her comebacks after her maternity leave.

Clarkson’s music video for “Stronger” became a sensation in Vietnam in 2011 as it featured a group of Vietnamese youngsters dancing to the song in front of Ho Chi Minh City’s iconic Ben Thanh Market, among numerous scenes of people dancing in other countries.

“I’ve always yearned for a real taste of Vietnam after all I’ve read and watched about the country. Vietnam is indeed on my list of ‘places to go.’ It was a sheer delight when my manager – also my husband – announced the performance invitation from the Miss Vietnam 2014 organizer,” Clarkson said.

She added the invite helped boost her morale and considerably alleviated her post-birth depression.

The singer, her husband and their six-month-old daughter visited the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace, had a few cool drinks and tried out Vietnamese delicacies at Bui Restaurant on Monday afternoon shortly after arriving at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

She also went past Ben Thanh Market, but the tight schedule and scorching heat kept her from going inside.

They also admired the cityscape at night from their hotel’s terrace.

“As for me, a beautiful woman is the one who is confident in herself. As I grew up, it gradually dawned on me that my beauty does not lie in my looks, but my singing voice and passion for music instead. My music has also accentuated the fairer sex’s vitality and internal strength,” Clarkson answered when asked what a beautiful woman is. 

The much-loved singer added that her triumph in the first season of “American Idol,” which was 12 years ago, provided her with a good start but does not heavily impact her singing career.

“Without my ceaseless passion for music, real ability and tremendous effort, the title alone would not bring me as many opportunities as I have now,” she said.

Clarkson is set to perform three of her hits, “Because of You,” “Stronger,” and “A Moment Like This” at the upcoming Miss Vietnam 2014 final, according to the pageant’s organizer.

The finale will start at 8:00 pm on Saturday at the newly-opened Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort in southern Vietnam’s Kien Giang Province, and will be aired live on national channel VTV1.

Clarkson’s performance of “Stronger” will feature a flashmob dance along with several Vietnamese images.

Meanwhile, she will perform “A Moment Like This” at the finale’s crowning moment.

Born in 1982 in Texas, Kelly Clarkson rose to fame after winning “American Idol” in 2002 with her strong and passionate voice, going on to become one of the most successful winners of the program.

Over the last 12 years she has had a series of international hits, including “Because of You,” “Since You’ve Been Gone,” “My Life Would Suck Without You,” “Stronger,” and more recent songs like “People Like Us” and “Catch My Breath.”

Clarkson's musical work has also received many awards, including Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and American Country Awards.

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