VietNamNet Bridge – While some international beauty contests, including the recent Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam, accept contestants who have had minor plastic surgeries, it is unacceptable in Vietnam.
Plastic surgery – trifles in the world
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| Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza |
It is not a big thing for girls in other countries to ask for help from plastic surgeons to “repair” some parts of their bodies before participating in pageants.
Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza, when asked in Venezuela what percentage did plastic surgery play in the success of beauty queens, confirmed: “Quite a lot. If you are not satisfied with some part of your body and you think you will feel better if it is improved, go get plastic surgery.”
Miss Universe Japan national director Ines Ligron stated she didn’t support plastic surgery but plastic surgery is normal because nobody is really perfect and the organisers of Miss Universe contest don’t ban contestants for plastic surgeries.
Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy said: “Most beauty contests in the world don’t accept contestants who change the natural beauty of their faces but it is okay if other parts of bodies are changed a little.”
The development of plastic surgery can make artificial beauty look very natural. In many cases, even doctors can’t detect any sign of plastic surgery unless they use specialised equipment.
Perhaps the perfection of plastic surgery industry is one of reasons for organisers of beauty contests in the world to accept it and only request contestants to keep their original faces.
Vietnamese beauties raise their voices
In Vietnam, plastic surgery is banned at all beauty contests and it is an article in the regulations on beauty contests and it is adhered to very strictly.
The organising boards of all beauty contests in Vietnam always have a member who is a beauty expert and in charge of verifying whether contestants’ beauty is natural or not.
Before official competitions, contestants have to pass a health check to confirm that they haven’t used plastic surgery to improve their beauty.
Vietnamese girls will participate in many more international pageants, including the upcoming Mrs. World 2009, Ms World 2010 in Vietnam, and if Vietnam doesn’t change its rule on banning plastic surgery, Vietnamese contestants will be at a disadvantage in international pageants. Some beauties have spoken out about this matter.
Miss Sport 2008 Tran Thi Quynh said: “Any girl wishes to own original beauty but if minor plastic surgery can help so why we don’t encourage it because it is modern beauty.”
Model and actress Phi Thanh Van, who has undergone many plastic surgeries, said: “Original beauty is the best but if you have some parts that are not nice, I support plastic surgery.”
Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy said: “Vietnamese girls are beautiful and gentle. Some have ideal heights. But their weakness is body measurements. Plastic surgery may be one way to help Vietnamese girls walk abreast of world beauties.”
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| Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy |
Plastic surgery is supported
Duong Xuan Nam, Chief Editor of the Tien Phong Newspaper, the organiser of Miss Vietnam pageant, backed Vietnamese beauties. He said outspokenly: “At the beginning I didn’t agree with the regulation that bans plastic surgery and I proposed to change it but I failed.”
“If we want to compete with world beauties, this regulation must be changed. The Ministry (of Culture, Sports and Tourism) should issue regulations to define which parts of the body are allowed to be operated on and which parts are not,” he added.
Le Ngoc Cuong, Head of the Performing Art Agency under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the agency is receiving opinions about this issue and it will adjust the regulations on beauty competitions. He said major plastic surgeries may not be accepted but minor ones are possible.
The draft amended regulations will be finalised this July and will be sent to related agencies for consideration.
(Source: DV, TTTD)
The current Miss World, Zhang Zi Lin, expressed her support for Ha Long Bay during a visit to Vietnam which included inaugurating numerous charity houses. Also eighty contestants of the Miss Universe 2008 on June 27-28 visited northeastern Quang Ninh province where they called at well-known Ha Long Bay and voted for it as one of the world’s seven natural wonders (see picture on the left).
