San Juan, Puerto Rico
Miss Universe 2008, the 57th Miss Universe pageant, was held at the Crown Convention Center in the Diamond Bay Resort, Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008. Dayana Mendoza, Miss Venezuela, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 by outgoing titleholder Riyo Mori of Japan. Eighty contestants competed in the event which was broadcast and distributed globally via NBC in English and Telemundo in Spanish to TV outlets in more than 180 countries. The pageant was watched by a live audience of 7,500 and nearly a billion television viewers worldwide. This is the first major USA-based television production to take place in Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War. This is also the first time that the Miss Universe pageant was broadcast in 1080i High-definition. And this pageant was held in a contemporary Communist state for the first time. 
Thuỳ Lâm was announced winner of Miss Vietnam 2008 on May 31, 2008. During the competition she was awarded Miss Talent and Miss Internet by the audience. As the winner she was also awarded $US12,000 and won the right to represent Vietnam at the Miss Universe 2008 competition. At the competition held in multiple cities in Vietnam, Thuy Lam was a Top 10 finalist in the Best National Costume competition and Top 5 finalist in the Most Charming in Áo Dài. In the final competition, Thuy Lam became the first Vietnamese candidate to survive the first cut in Miss Universe pageant being only one of the two asians making the first cut along with Hiroko Mima. She was consequently cut when the Top 10 candidates were announced.
The Performance Art Agency has agreed to allow supermodel Vo Hoang Yen to be Vietnam’s representative at Miss Universe 2009 to be held on Paradise Island, Bahamas on August 23. Vo Hoang Yen is a new face in Vietnam’s fashion industry. The 21-year-old model (1.79m, 90-62-92) won the gold prize at Vietnam Supermodel 2008 and was first runner-up in Miss Universe Vietnam 2008.
Let me start this review by saying Vo is simply one of the most fiercest contestant that will be gracing the Miss Universe competition. the first time I saw this girl in a youtube video I was blown away! She just got me on the floor gasping for air! This girl definately must had been doing her home work! She just floats gracefully in the catwalk exuding both confidence and techniqe on every step... No wonder she has made such a fuzz between fans, missologists, pageant experts and bashers! Including japan's director Ignes Lingron saying that the Vietnamese representative for Miss Universe 2009 Vo Hoang Yen owns a “special beauty†but she has made her think of entrants in the Miss Tiffany transsexual beauty pageant in Thailand!
Feeling a tad nervous Ignes?
1. PRESENTATION: Miss Vietnam Universe Vo Hoang Yen is probably going to present herself as a modern yet traditional girl with a youthfull look and fierce feroccia attitude on stage! She seems demure an poised when she talks (As I don't understand a dime of what she says yet judges won't as well so..) I think she's gonna give a heck of a fight and her attitude is going to be a breeze of fresh air, to many! adding that her model skills would be a fact that will be in many mouths in Bahamas as her fame as a fierce warrior has already been shipped overseas!
9.15
2. FACE: With a small V shaped face, fresh and youthfull looking Vo Hoang doesn't scream to me "beautifull" or "stunning", the word "pretty" seems to be more fitting for Vo. My best recomendation for this girl is to try to look as much as this pic above as she can, short on make up and fresh on face and a clean sleek hairstyle! She needs to capitalize on her youthfull look making her rivals look like Margaret Thathcher! Simply let the catwalk do the rest of the job!
8.80
3. BODY: Without a doubt THE most bahsed and criticized aspect of Vo Hoang has to be her body. Although she had made some progress from the time that infamous pic with the red bikini at the beach has been floating around on forums and have awaken outrage between lovers and haters, the fact is she still needs more toning of her slim figure, specially her legs. The good news with Vietnam is that given her ability to model with such great proyection and movement, she might compensate with good catwalk and quite possibly survive the suimsuit competition!
8.70
4.CATWALK SKILLS: I would gladly change Vo's name to "Von Ferroccciiaaa Hoang Potenta!!" I mean, how can I start reviewing this girl's catwalk skills, she's simply letting the children have it! Her catwalk is ''TO DIE FOR!" I loooove her movement and attitude in sooo many levels. First she walks with such ease and her flow of movement is superrrrrrrvvvv!! She connects with you when she walks to a point she can be intimidating! she exude's energy and confidence with a very intense seductive stare.. I'm just a fan of her since I saw her in action for the first time, when she got me crawling on broken glass!! OMG JUST KILL ME!!
9.90
VO HOANG YEN OVERALL SCORES:
1. PRESENTATION: ....................... 9.15
2. FACE: .....................................8.80
3. BODY: .....................................8.70
4. CATWALK SKILLS: ......................9.90
NINA RECOMENDS: My primary recomendation for Vietnam has to be to guard her claws a little bit while in the Bahamas and then BOOM! at the prelims. Remember there's gonna be plenty of copy cats out there lookig for techniques and to complete their lists of do's and dont's before the pageant and Vietnam is going to be one of the girls to look for in terms of Catwalks skills, so she have to be a little bit cautious not to give too many demonstrations out there! Overall she needs some fresh light make up, youthfull looking hairstyle, bubbly attitude and a beautifull flying gown that allows Vo Hoang to develop herself on stage and presto one of strongest contestants from Asia by far if not the strongest! Vietnam this year represents a double threat as if she actually qualifies this year can potentially catapult vietnam as one of the future powerhouse of beauty from Asia, remember is all about momentum and skill! Good luck Vietnam!!
