The stormy life story of a Vietnamese beauty crowned Miss twice

Twice crowned

Nguyen Thien Nga was born in 1975 in Ho Chi Minh City. She was crowned Miss Tien Phong newspaper (now Miss Vietnam) in 1996, when she was only 21 years old. That year, both the judges and the public considered Thien Nga to be completely worthy of the prestigious crown because she was not only beautiful but also had the ability to behave intelligently.

Thien Nga when crowned Miss Vietnam in 1996.

The title of Miss Vietnam in 1996 helped Thien Nga become one of the famous models in Ho Chi Minh City, participating in most of the major fashion shows at that time. In 1999, she participated in the first Miss Vietnam contest to select Vietnamese beauties to compete in Miss Friendship International (the first time held in Vietnam). With an excellent performance, Thien Nga once again reached the highest position. Then, when competing in Miss Friendship International 1999, she entered the top 10 and received the 2nd runner-up prize in the Southeast Asia region.

Thien Nga participated in the Miss International Friendship contest in 1999, she entered the top 10 and received the 2nd runner-up prize in the Southeast Asia region.

Leave showbiz to pursue education

Despite having a wide open path in the entertainment industry, only 5 years after being crowned, Thien Nga decided to go to the US to study and start a career. In the US, she studied Business Administration at San Jose State University. After graduating, she took on the role of business consultant for an organization in Silicon Valley in northern California.

Since moving to the US, Miss Thien Nga’s life has been a mystery to the media. For many years, the public had no information about her. Later, when asked about her decision to move to the US when her career was on the rise, she said:“I have never regretted that decision, because it was the path I wanted to take.”

In 2001, Thien Nga married a professor at San Jose University, who was ten years older than her. Her husband was her father's student, Professor Nguyen Huu Phuong. For many years, Thien Nga's marriage was filled with happiness. In the eyes of Miss Vietnam 1996, her husband was the person she always idolized. Therefore, she completely accepted him, including his shortcomings.

Knowing that her husband does not like her to be too close to her partners, Thien Nga always takes the initiative to be discreet in her relationships. She also gradually leaves the glitz of the entertainment industry to complete her work as an investment consultant for a company while taking care of and building a family according to her husband's wishes. Thien Nga's marriage is even happier with the birth of her son Anthony.

Major events

In 1996, while competing in the Miss Vietnam contest, Thien Nga received the news that her mother had suddenly passed away due to a serious illness. Having been loved and pampered by her mother, this news seemed too much for Thien Nga to bear. For a long time, she carried within her a pain that was hard to share with anyone.

The charm of a Swan in her forties.

At the end of 2015, Thien Nga suffered another terrible incident. She was stunned when she heard that her husband suddenly passed away from a heart attack in his private office. At that time, the beauty queen was taking her son to school. The pain of losing a loved one once again made her sink into depression, unable to do anything for the next 2 years. It was only when she heard her son sobbing because he missed his father that Thien Nga woke up, realizing that she had to try harder and be more active to take care of her son.

Later, Thien Nga choked up and recounted:“My husband passed away suddenly, my son and I lost our support so life was very precarious. We suddenly fell from the clouds to the ground. But I am a mother, and an adult, so I had to support my son. His spirit was very weak at that time, crying every night calling his father's name. When you are suffering, but if you think of sacrificing for others, you naturally feel less suffering. I love my son and consider him the most important, so I consider him a friend so that he can feel comforted and stronger.”

To help her child and herself get through this terrible period, Thien Nga forced herself to fill the void of her child's father's absence. She did everything she could to make her child happy again because to her at that time, her mother was the most important person.

Because she is secretive, Thien Nga's current life in the US is not shared much by her. Despite facing major life changes, with her intelligence and experience in financial investment, the beauty queen is still able to provide herself and her son with a comfortable life. However, hidden deep in Thien Nga's eyes, people can still see the deep sadness of a woman who has to endure the loss of the people she loves the most. In 2018, when she returned home to attend the finalsMiss Vietnam, Thien Nga revealed for the first time the pain of her life. Although understanding the impermanence, Thien Nga still shed tears when mentioning the passing of her husband.

When she returned to Vietnam after 17 years of absence, Thien Nga brought her 13-year-old son with her. She once revealed that although her son is young, he is very mature in his thinking. She always considers him as a friend, with whom she can share everything in life. What comforts the beauty queen is that her son is exactly like his father, both in appearance and personality:"When I look at my son, I see his image. He is like a miniature copy of his father. He also has his father's steadfast personality, always doing what he likes no matter what obstacles he encounters. That comforts me a lot.", Thien Nga confided.

After the incident, Thien Nga did not want to remarry but wanted to devote all her heart and attention to her son. For the beauty queen, happiness now is the peace she always wanted for herself and her son.