Miss Universe Vietnam 2026 winner suspended from stage performances for 6 months over leaked messages

Pham Duy Khanh, CEO of Five6 Entertainment and head of the Miss Universe Vietnam 2026 organizing committee, announced the disciplinary measures on Sunday afternoon.

Under the decision, Quynh Anh will be prohibited from participating in stage performances for six months and must pay a fine as ordered by the authorities.

The first runner-up Trinh My Anh, meanwhile, will be suspended from stage performances for three months and will likely have to pay a fine as well.

Both suspensions take effect from the date the respective decisions become effective, the organizing committee said in the announcement posted on its Facebook page, without elaborating on any specific date.

The organizers said the measures were intended to promote greater responsibility in speech and conduct while upholding the standards expected of individuals involved in beauty pageants.

Khanh said the organizing committee would continue cooperating with relevant authorities to verify and address outstanding issues.

He stressed that all decisions within the organizers' authority were based on pageant regulations, verified information, and applicable rules.

Private messages spark controversy

The disciplinary action followed a controversy that erupted on October 12, when screenshots allegedly taken from a private group chat involving Miss Universe Vietnam 2026 contestants spread across social media.

The messages contained disparaging remarks about fellow contestants, judges, and other people associated with the pageant.

Among those reportedly mentioned was Miss Universe Vietnam 2024 winner Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, who had competed against Quynh Anh in 2024, when Quynh Anh finished as first runner-up.

The leaked conversations also included comments questioning a judge's competence and discussing the private life of fourth runner-up Trinh Hong Dang.

The controversy emerged just 10 days after the Miss Universe Vietnam 2026 final in Hai Phong City on October 2, when Quynh Anh was crowned winner and My Anh finished as first runner-up.

As criticism mounted, the organizers announced on October 12 that they were reviewing and verifying the circulating messages before determining appropriate action.

Both beauty queens subsequently issued public apologies on their personal social media accounts.