An 18-year-old high school graduate was declared the new Miss Vietnam after beating out 42 beauty contestants at the pageant finale on Sunday night.

Tran Tieu Vy, born in 2000 in the famed central city of Hoi An, won the crown in the finale in Ho Chi Minh City, a victory widely said to open a new era when more people born in the new millennium will shine at beauty contests.

Two other young women, 1998-born Bui Phuong Nga and 21-year-old Nguyen Thi Thuy An, claimed the first and second runner-up titles of the two-month-long competition, respectively.

This year marked the 30th anniversary of Miss Vietnam, a biennial beauty pageant initiated in 1988 by Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper to improve young women’s role in national development while dignifying the country’s cultural potential, tradition and history.

A screen capture of Miss Vietnam 2018 first runner-up Bui Phuong Nga at the pageant's finale in Ho Chi Minh City on September 16, 2018.

The finale venue, District 11-based Phu Tho Stadium, was busier than usual on Sunday night, as well-wishers and beauty enthusiasts gathered to support 42 finalists vying for the title of Miss Vietnam 2018.

With this being one of the most highly anticipated pageants of the year, attendees were excited to strut the red carpet, while supporters waved posters of their favorite contestants, and watched the beauties rock their best smiles in an apparent attempt to prove themselves worthy of the title.

Before the event hosts started guiding the audience through the night's proceedings, the contestants graced the stage in a spirited opening number that highlighted the dynamic beauty and confidence of modern Vietnamese women.

Soon it was time for the beauties to don Vietnam’s traditional ‘ao dai’ (long gown) before the top 25 finalists showed off their toned bodies in designer swimwear.

Only 15 contestants were chosen to compete in the evening gown category, after which the judges made their decision on the pageant’s top five.

Vy, Nga, An, Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien and Nguyen Thi Hong Tuyet, entered the Q&A section, which made up ten percent of their overall score.

Vy, the youngest contestant who just graduated from high school, was asked what she would tell the future generation if she was entitled to a time travel trip to 100 years from now.

The young beauty was stuttering in lack of confidence when she gave what was criticized as a cliché reply. “I would advise them to believe in their dreams, to cultivate knowledge to succeed. That success will help them to help others around, to help a better society,” Vy answered.

Despite the unsatisfactory answer, Vy won the contest’s highest title and pearl-and-sapphire crown, with the organizers telling a press conference the same night that the judges made their decision based on the contestants’ overall performance during the entire course of the pageant.

A photo of Miss Vietnam 2018 Tran Tieu Vy (left) from her social media when she was still in high school.

Two other contestants of the top five, Tien and Tuyet, won the “Beauty with a purpose” and “Beauty with a lovable face” awards, respectively, while the “Beauty with beautiful skin” title went to Bui Thi Yen Nhi. This was the first time Miss Vietnam had handed out the ‘skin and face’ awards.

As Miss Vietnam 2018, Vy will represent her country at Miss World 2018 in China in late December.

The first-runner up Nga will compete at the Miss Grand 2018 in Myanmar, while the second-runner up An will participate in the Miss International 2018 in Japan.

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