Supermodel contest looks for fresh faces
Forty local men and women will be competing at the regional supermodel finals on March 26 and 28 in hopes of qualifying for the national Vietnam Supermodel Contest in HCMC next month.
Judges will the regional finals to compete at the national competition at Hoa Binh Theater on April 4.
The women will take part in a parade of ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) at the regional final, while males will strut down the catwalk in evening wear. Both men and women will partake in a swimsuit competition.
At the regional finals, contestants will be judged on their appearance, evening wear or ao dai, bathing suit modeling and overall performance. Only the best candidates will take part in the final question and answer round.
The male and female winners of the 2008 Vietnam Supermodel Contest will each take home VND20mil, a US$2,000 English language scholarship, a trophy and a certificate.
The first runner-ups will receive VND15mil, while and the second runner-ups will receive VND10mil, an English language course, a commemorative cup and a certificate.
The male and female contestants named the Best Supermodel Performers, the Most Talented Supermodels, the Most Impressive Supermodels, the Most Photogenic Supermodels and the Most Favorite Supermodels will each take home VND6mil.
Hoang Dai Thanh, a member of the organizing committee, said that men will be allowed to compete in the contest for the first time in three years and that the surge in demand for male models triggered this change.
According to Thanh, this year's contest attracted more than 400 contestants between the ages of 18-25, but only the 40 most outstanding contestants have been chosen to take part in the regional finals. All the female contestants are at least 1.65 meters tall, while the males are at least 1.75meters tall.
Renowned singers Dam Vinh Hung, Ho Ngoc Ha, Thanh Thao, Thu Minh, Nguyen Vu, Ngo Thanh Van, Quang Vinh, Nathan Lee, Le Hieu, Ha Tram, Hoang Hai and the New Sun band will perform at the national finals as the contestants saunter down the catwalk.
At the national finals, contestants will be judged on their beauty, knowledge and talent. The competition hopes to find talented supermodels for Vietnam.
Huynh Van Nam, general director of HCMC Television and head of the organizing committee, said that the competition is expected to promote Vietnam and tourism. The contest winners will go on to compete in global beauty contests.
This year's supermodel pageant has attracted a number of fashion designers including Viet Hung, Vo Viet Chung, Ngo Nhat Huy, ABC, Truong Thanh Hai, Nguyen Duc Huy, Cuong Thinh, Milan, Tran Cao Anh Tuan and Xuan Thu.
Both the regional and national finals will be broadcast live at 8:30 pm on HTV9.
The event is being organized by HCMC Television, Cat Tien Sa and Thoi Trang Tre Magazine.
For more information, contact Ms. My Chau of Cat Tien Sa Co., 5B Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, District 1, HCMC. Tel: (08) 823 5962.
Source SaigonTimes