A large portion of the Vietnamese audience expressed their disappointment after Duyen was named Miss Vietnam 2014 and suggested that the first runner-up, Nguyen Tran Huyen My, from Hanoi, should have won.
In response, Le Canh Nhac, a poet and head of the panel of judges, claimed that the judges rate contestants objectively, using a process based on certain criteria. Face, voice, communication skills and manner make up for 40% of the overall score, while performance and behaviour account for the rest.
"We are satisfied that we made the right decision. The audience only has a glance at the contestants on stage, while the judges have the opportunity to interact with them. Ky Duyen gained the highest score," said Nhac.
Among the newly-crowned Miss Vietnam's critics are a number of make up artists. One of them, Lilian Tran, said, “Ky Duyen has an elegant, typically Asian beauty, but her make-up diminished her beauty on the final night.”
Duyen, who decided to enter the pageant just after passing her university entrance exam, had only three months to prepare, reacted to her critics modestly, saying, “I had never worn a pair of high-heels on stage before the contest, so I lack experience. I’ll try to improve myself in the future.”
