Ngo Tra My refused to compete in Miss Universe 2016

Miss Universe Vietnam's first runner-up wants to focus on her own projects instead of spending time competing in beauty contests abroad.

After the final night of Miss Universe Vietnam in October 2015, Miss Pham Huong was sent to participate in Miss Universe 2015 in the US. After Pham Huong, 1st runner-up Ngo Tra My is a candidate in the list of beauties with a high possibility of continuing to compete in Miss Universe 2016.

Miss Pham Thi Huong with two runners-up Tra My (left) and Le Hang.

On January 29, Ngo Tra My shared with VnExpress that she did not want to participate in any domestic or international beauty pageants because she needed to spend time focusing on a major project she was pursuing. "I will be able to announce the project in about two months. I thought carefully, weighing the opportunity to compete in an international beauty pageant and the opportunity to focus on doing what I love. And in the end, I chose my job."

Around the end of November 2015, Ngo Tra My began to have physical training sessions invited by the Miss Universe Vietnam organizing committee to prepare for Miss Universe. The beauty was also invited to attend skills training classes, however, she did not participate because she was busy.

In the next few days, Tra My will have a meeting with the Miss Universe Vietnam organizing committee to discuss her withdrawal.

"At some previous Miss Universe Vietnam events, Mr. Tran Ngoc Nhat - head of the contest's organizing committee - shared that I was a contestant in Miss Universe 2016. Recently, I learned that Miss Universe Vietnam said that they had never spoken up about me representing the country in Miss Universe. I think that saying that is disrespectful to me. Therefore, I want to have a frank conversation between both sides about my refusal and giving the opportunity to others. The title of 1st runner-up that I received was from the Miss Universe Vietnam contest and I always cherish that. I hope that there will be a happy consensus between both sides," Tra My said.

Runner-up Ngo Tra My.

A representative of the Miss Universe Vietnam organizing committee said that it was not until June that the organization had information confirming who would be sent to compete in Miss Universe 2016. "Up until now, Ngo Tra My has only been on the candidate list. The organizing committee has never confirmed that she will officially compete," this person said.

Ngo Tra My was born in 1992 in Hanoi. She graduated from Thang Long University. Before participating in Miss Universe Vietnam, she was a new face in the beauty and entertainment industry. The beauty entered the contest with the mindset of trying and learning from experience but unexpectedly won a high title. Currently, she travels between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to do her own work and rarely participates in entertainment activities.

According to VnExpress