Bui Quynh Hoa, a 25-year-old woman from Hanoi, emerged as the winner of the Miss Universe Vietnam 2023 beauty pageant during the grand finale in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday. 

Hoa surpassed 17 other contestants to win the title on the coronation night at the Hoa Binh Theater in District 10.

She succeeds last year’s winner Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau and will now prepare to compete in the Miss Universe International 2023 pageant, to be held in El Salvador on November 18.

The first and second runner-up titles went to Nguyen Thi Huong Ly and Trinh Thi Hong Dang, respectively.

Bui Quynh Hoa during the Q&A portion at the Miss Universe Vietnam 2023 finale in Ho Chi Minh City, September 29, 2023. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

The 18 contestants participated in five rounds during Friday’s finale, namely introductions, national costumes, swimsuits, evening gowns, and the Q&A portion.

After the first four rounds, the panel of judges selected the top five contestants, along with the winner of the Most Popular Beauty award -- Trinh Thi Hong Dang, for the Q&A portion, where they took turns drawing questions and providing responses.

It was noted that one of the judges accidentally directed a question not intended for Hoa to the Hanoi beauty while many viewers commented that her answer resembled a search result from Google.

The low organization quality, poor music performances, and the host’s incompetence also came under criticism.

Miss Universe Vietnam 2023 Bui Quynh Hoa waves to the audience after winning the grand title in the beauty pageant’s finale in Ho Chi Minh City, September 29, 2023. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Eventually, Hoa, a 25-year-old fashion model from Hanoi, was announced the winner.

Nguyen Thi Le Nam earned the ‘Media Beauty’ prize, Mai Phuong Thao was recornized with the ‘Inspirational Beauty’ prize, Lydie Vu won the ‘Beach Beauty’ prize, Trinh Thi Hong Dang secured the ‘Ao dai Beauty’ prize, and Le Thi Lan Anh bagged the ‘Fashion Beauty’ prize.

No stranger to pageantry, the new Miss Universe Vietnam was crowned Miss Ao dai Vietnam World 2017 and won the Supermodel Vietnam 2018 and Supermodel International 2022.

She is also a former contestant at Miss Sea Vietnam Global 2018 and Miss Universe Vietnam 2022.

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