Phi Thanh Van speaks out about suspicions of going to the US to compete in a beauty pageant 'illegally'

The actress said that she entered the competition as a businesswoman so she did not need to apply for a license from the Department of Performing Arts.

On December 4, Phi Thanh Van surprised everyone when she was crowned Miss Vietnamese Businesswoman in Orlando, Florida, USA. After her victory, in addition to the congratulations from friends, colleagues and audiences, the actress also faced many skeptical opinions about her newly achieved title. Some people said that Phi Thanh Van most likely went to the US to "compete illegally" without asking permission from the Department of Performing Arts as required.

Phi Thanh Van caused controversy when she was crowned Miss Vietnamese American Businesswoman.

Faced with the suspicion of violating the beauty pageant regulations and possibly being fined and not being recognized as Miss Vietnam, Phi Thanh Van expressed her indignation. "The law stipulates that beauties and models must ask for permission to compete internationally, but I went to the US to compete as a Vietnamese businesswoman. I have never seen any law that requires Vietnamese citizens or businessmen to ask for permission before competing in beauty pageants abroad. I don't think I violated any regulations," Phi Thanh Van explained to Ngoisao.net.

The actress also remained calm in the face of criticism that the contest she participated in was small in scale with only 20 finalists. However, she was upset when she was accused of having paid to buy the beauty pageant. "Every beauty pageant in Vietnam or abroad is discussed and commented on the final results. I think those who keep speculating and fabricating stories about buying the award must be very idle, have nothing else to do, or they are self-conscious and jealous of other people's success. What have they done to make such comments or are they just talking to satisfy their jealousy? Why don't people congratulate and honor the winner but instead like to find fault, scrutinize and bring them down?" Phi Thanh Van said.

The actress was upset by comments suspecting she spent money to buy the beauty pageant title.

Mr. Le Minh Tuan - Deputy Director of the Department of Performing Arts - said that this agency will check whether Phi Thanh Van's participation in the Miss Vietnamese Businesswoman contest is in accordance with the law to have an appropriate handling direction.

According to the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 79/2012/ND-CP dated October 5, 2012 of the Government regulating art performances, fashion shows, beauty contests and models, Article 22 states: Conditions and procedures for granting licenses to participate in international beauty and model contests are contestants who have won major titles at domestic beauty and model contests and are represented by a Vietnamese organization with a business registration for cultural and artistic services or a decision to establish with the function of cultural and artistic activities by a competent state agency to carry out procedures to request a license to participate in international beauty and model contests and send them to compete./.

According to Ngoisao.net