Huong Giang Idol: "My strength is naturalness"

- What have you prepared for the Miss World Queen 2018 contest?

- If everything goes well, I will leave for Thailand on February 25 to meet the organizers and contestants in Pattaya. The competition starts on February 25 and the final will take place on March 9, broadcast live on one of the two largest TV channels in Thailand.

There will be all the same activities as Miss Universe, including charity work, talent competitions, sports, national costumes... and the winner will also do all the duties like a normal Miss.

I'll be honest, I haven't prepared much because the contest came to me quite suddenly. Everyone knows that I'm quite open-minded, so the most important thing is to prepare mentally to forget the old days, forget who I am. Of course, every beauty queen must have a personality, but when you're a beauty queen, you always have to have your own standards. Now I have to focus on learning from the smallest things, like skills, catwalk, charisma... Of which, the most important thing is living habits, because that's something that's hard to change.

-What is your goal in this contest?

- Some people go to the competition with the mindset of having nothing to lose, so they will be very comfortable, but for me, this is a risk and a trade-off. If I come back empty-handed, I don't know how I will face everything. However, I think that perhaps the fact that I dare to compete is more important than anything. If I don't compete this year, they won't invite Vietnam in the following years and there won't be any opportunities for those who come after.

When transgender people are gradually recognized in Vietnam, who knows, in the future, in beauty contests or TV shows like The Face, Next Top... they will consider and let transgender people participate. If I don't open a new page, the future of Vietnamese transgender people will be quite bleak. So the fact that I dare to trade it is higher than whether I win or lose. I am very determined to train and try my best to bring the image of Vietnam to international friends in the best way.

-How does the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community in Vietnam support you in this decision?

- I am an active participant in community activities, sometimes as an MC, sometimes as a guest speaker... Luckily, most people support me. I feel happy and a little proud. I do not dare to represent anything, but first of all to surpass myself. I promise to do my best to have a certain position in the competition. Hopefully, the success of the pioneer will lead the way for those who follow.

-What do you think your chances of winning this competition are?

- I can't estimate because I haven't met the 28 representatives in real life, so I don't dare to overestimate or underestimate anyone. What I am confident about and my strength is my naturalness, I don't need to try to force myself to be this or that. In addition, in terms of foreign language skills, I can communicate well. As for my pronunciation or speaking more fluently, I will improve more.

My limitation is that I have no experience in competitions. Moreover, I live a carefree life so I have to change my living habits.

-If you win the Miss title, what will happen to your singing career?

- It is difficult to compare these two things. Singing is my passion, a career that I have been doing for a long time, while beauty pageants are an opportunity that came suddenly, not in my plan. If I become Miss, will I still sing, I cannot answer because everything at this point is out of control. But I hope I can maintain both and not give up singing.

-Did you foresee that if you won the prize but returned home, you would not be welcomed?

- That is also the prejudice that I am fighting. If I bring glory back, the prejudice will still exist or be honored, I cannot answer. But I believe that if the name of Vietnam is called in the final night, national pride will make everyone put aside their prejudice to support me like other ordinary women.

When they knew I was participating in this contest, Dam Vinh Hung and many other artists were very supportive. Everyone said they would book tickets to Thailand to watch the final night to cheer me on. That made me very emotional.

-Many people say that they no longer think of you as a transgender person but as a real woman. What do you think?

- Sometimes I feel really happy when I read that comment. But in this contest, I hope people remember that I am transgender. That way they will support me more.

On January 8, Huong Giang officially confirmed that she will participate in Miss International Queen - Miss International Queen 2018. This is the largest beauty contest for transgender beauties around the world, held annually in Thailand. In 2016, the contest was held in Pattaya, Thailand. Surpassing 24 international representatives, the host country's beauty Jiratchaya Sirimongkolnawin was crowned.

This year, with representatives from 28 countries participating, Miss International Queen will begin on February 25 and the final will take place on the night of March 9 in Pattaya. The final will be broadcast live on Channel 7 - one of the largest television channels in Thailand. The organizers said that many Vietnamese candidates submitted applications, but they chose Huong Giang as the only representative.

Huong Giang was born in 1991 in Hanoi. She is 1.70m tall, weighs 52kg with measurements of 86-62-90. Huong Giang changed gender after graduating from high school.