Miss Grand Vietnam 2026 contestants' bikini performance sparks controversy; what does the organizer have to say?

Hanoi [Vietnam], July 24: Following the controversy surrounding the contestants' performances in the Best in Swimsuit round, the organizers of Miss Grand Vietnam 2026 stated that the contestants had changed their movements compared to the rehearsal and affirmed that they would tighten the procedures in subsequent rounds.
On July 23rd, the Best in Swimsuit competition, part of Miss Grand Vietnam 2026, took place in Ho Chi Minh City. During the performance, each contestant introduced their name, contestant number, representative organization, and other basic information. This segment aimed to assess the contestants' preparation, demeanor, performance skills, and stage presence.
The judging panel for Miss Grand Vietnam 2026 at the event included Le Hoang Phuong, Doan Thien An, Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, Vo Le Que Anh, and designer Ivan Tran. During her performance, contestant Emoura Pham attracted attention by performing a push-up on the edge of the pool, combined with unusual poses. The performance quickly became a topic of discussion on social media, attracting thousands of conflicting opinions within hours of being posted. Besides opinions that the contestant created a highlight, many comments criticized the performance as inappropriate, arguing that the movements were overly focused on showing off the body and lacked subtlety, even being considered offensive .
Response from the organizers of Miss Grand Vietnam 2026
Following the mixed reactions surrounding the contestants' performances in the Best in Swimsuit round, the organizers of Miss Grand Vietnam 2026 stated that they have noted one case where a contestant's performance differed from what was presented during the dress rehearsal.
"During rehearsals and dress rehearsals, the organizing committee and the professional panel always require contestants to fully demonstrate their skills, movements, and intended stage performance ideas. This serves as a basis for the organizing committee to provide feedback, advice, and adjustments, while ensuring that the performances meet the competition criteria and the overall direction of the program. However, on the official competition night, one contestant added or changed some movements compared to the content presented in the dress rehearsal," a representative of the organizing committee responded to Thanh Nien newspaper.
According to the organizers, this change may stem from the contestant's performance strategy or creativity, causing the performance to deviate from the agreed-upon content.
The organizers affirm that they always respect the individuality and creative spirit of each contestant. However, to ensure professionalism, consistency, and the direction of the competition, all performances must be reviewed for concept and perfected during the dress rehearsal.
The organizing unit also stated that it will strengthen coordination and supervision of the training, rehearsals, and performances in the subsequent rounds to minimize changes outside of the agreed-upon content. At the same time, the organizing committee acknowledges feedback from the audience and media to further improve the organization, aiming for polished, professional performances that align with the values ​​the competition pursues.
Source: Thanh Nein Newspaper