The first runner-up at the Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 pageant has been selected to represent her country at the upcoming Miss Universe 2019.

The selection of Hoang Thuy, a professional model, was announced by the organizers of Miss Universe Vietnam on Monday.

Thuy, 27, won the 2011 cycle of Vietnam’s Next Top Model, a reality TV series in which aspiring models compete for a chance to begin their career in the modeling industry.

In 2017, Thuy finished second in the third edition of the Miss Universe Vietnam pageant behind H’Hen Nie, who went on to make it to the Top 5 of Miss Universe the following year.

Before the start of her modeling career, Thuy went to the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City.

“Hoang Thuy stands out as the most fitting choice to compete at Miss Universe 2019 because she has the beauty, experience, maturity and fearlessness to take over the baton from H’Hen Nie,” the organizers of Miss Universe Vietnam said in a statement.

“Thuy has always been prepared to represent Vietnam in a global competition,” it added.

Writing on Facebook after her appointment, Thuy said she does not feel pressured by the achievements of her predecessor H’Hen Nie.

“I keep reminding myself that what I have been doing for the past few years were founded on a dream to make Vietnamese models and people known to the world, so this is a golden opportunity that I must seize,” Thuy wrote.

The organizers are seeking permission from the Department of Performing Arts to officially qualify Thuy as Vietnam’s representative at the Miss Universe 2019 pageant.

As of May 2019, contestants from 18 countries and territories have confirmed their participation in Miss Universe 2019.

The official date and host country for the pageant’s 68th iteration remains undecided.

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