Le Au Ngan Anh, 22, burst into tears when knowing she had been chosen as the winner of the beauty pageant in the finale organized at Hoa Binh Theater in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday.

There was rumor that Anh had paid to win the title, given her physical appearance, but the chief of the organizing board Vo Viet Chung, who is a famed local designer, refuted it, saying she deserved it.

“This is a good result,” Chung claimed. “She met many requirements, from looks to knowledge.”

Regarding reports that Anh had undergone cosmetic surgery, which is a taboo, before attending the contest, Chung said he had nothing to explain as the winner had passed an anthropometric test.

The beauty from Tien Giang Province in southern Vietnam made light of public criticism, underlining her own victory.

“What matters is that I have overcome myself,” Anh said.

Le Au Ngan Anh is happy with her crown. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The woman said she had done well in the Q&A round, a very important part of the pageant, answering a question of the jury, headed by the chief executive officer of Interactive Co. Ltd., Forbes Vietnam, Duong Thu Huong, about the importance of learning foreign languages.

Anh thought she had spoken English with a “pretty good” accent while the audience had to guess what she was talking about when she described a beach in Vietnam.

Many members of the audience took to Facebook, saying that either the first or second runner-up, Nguyen Thi Dieu Thuy or Dang Thanh Ngan, should have been crowned.

The beauty contest had been ongoing for two months before 30 contestants were selected for the finale on Saturday.

The winner was given VND500 million (US$22,020) together with a crown worth VND3.2 billion ($140,928), plus other benefits.

Anh will represent Vietnam at Miss Supranational 2018, whose host country has not been known.

Miss Ocean Vietnam 2017 Le Au Ngan Anh. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Le Au Ngan Anh poses during the finale in Ho Chi Minh City on October 28, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Le Au Ngan Anh in the finale. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Le Au Ngan Anh walks onstage in the finale. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Le Au Ngan Anh (C), first runner-up Nguyen Thi Dieu Thuy (R), and second runner-up Dang Thanh Ngan. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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