The issue isn't just about quantity.

For many years, the proliferation of beauty pageants has been considered the reason for the "boredom" and "decline" of this highly entertaining activity.

However, in reality, "beauty pageant overabundance" is not the only factor causing many people to turn their backs on beauty contests.

According to statistics, in 2024, approximately 60 beauty pageants of varying sizes were held in Vietnam, honoring hundreds of winners. This year, in June alone, there were three finals: Miss Universe Vietnam (June 21st), Miss Vietnam (June 27th), and Miss Earth Vietnam (June 28th) – held in Khanh Hoa, Hue, and Hai Phong respectively. And behind these competitions are other contests that are underway or about to be launched, such as Miss Grand Vietnam, Miss Ocean Vietnam, Miss Global Vietnam, not to mention the newly introduced Miss National, which gained recognition through a press conference...

It's a long list with names that are still unfamiliar or already well-known, but the sheer number isn't the main reason for the monotony.

The "decline," as many people have assessed, also lies in the behavior of beauty queens during their reign; the trend of forming groups to support their "protégés" and spreading information detrimental to other beauties; the controversies surrounding so-called support through "model-tycoon" relationships and the judging process in some "smaller" competitions...

Public disapproval of beauty pageants has become so prevalent that related "drama" is now considered "inevitable," "unavoidable," and "normal." Most recently, after the Miss Universe Vietnam final (June 21st), information surfaced about a contestant "dropping out," hinting at a potentially "predictable" outcome. In a previous international competition, after a Vietnamese contestant won the runner-up title, there were many insults directed at her, criticizing her appearance, even though this competition prioritized physical attributes, and the judging methods of a "Western" panel differed from those of many Asians. This is similar to what happened to Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 H'Hen Niê when she made it to the top of an international competition where there was no bias based on skin color; no one said, "What kind of beauty queen is she, so dark-skinned?"

To restore the prestige of beauty pageants in Vietnam, it's not enough to simply "clean up" those organized for profit. What's needed is transparency in criteria and judging methods to quell drama and select deserving beauty queens and winners.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/van-de-khong-chi-la-so-luong-707128.html