Parents come from a farming family
- Please introduce your family and tell us some memorable memories of Nguyen Hoang Phuong Linh about them?
My family is very basic. My parents went to university in the North and then worked in the South. I am the youngest child, with two older brothers.
My parents came from a farming family but chose to study to change their lives. They worked hard and seriously. My mother later started her own business and it was her dedication and perseverance over decades that changed the lives of the whole family.
At my college graduation in the US, my mother flew in to attend. Although she was not used to expressing her feelings, she wrote on the teddy bear she gave me: "Thank you, Ngoc!". Just 3 words but I felt overwhelmed because I had been waiting for her recognition for a long time. That was the rare time my mother expressed her feelings so I will always remember it.
- How did the period of psychological crisis while living and studying abroad affect your mental health?
Studying abroad has shaped my thinking and personality a lot. From a high school student who lived a comfortable and fulfilling life in Vietnam, when I went abroad, I realized that I was just a small individual in a big world . That taught me humility - that what I know is just a very small part compared to the treasure of human knowledge.
I learned that I need to always be open to new knowledge and keep a progressive mindset to improve myself.
During the psychological crisis, I was afraid to go out and communicate. The repetitive schedule made me depressed, not looking forward to tomorrow because I knew it would be the same as today. I felt lonely and lost but could not share with anyone because I did not want my family and friends to worry.
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- What is the daily work of an IT compliance specialist like and can you apply anything from your job to beauty pageants?
My job is to review the technical controls that the company is applying to the information technology system, ensuring compliance with security and safety standards as required by third parties such as the State Bank or international organizations. If I detect any non-compliance, I will plan and coordinate with relevant departments to implement, ensuring the system operates stably and safely for customers.
This job requires meticulousness and constant updating of knowledge because technology and regulations are always changing. The learning mindset and thorough preparation at work have supported me a lot in my journey to the beauty pageant. I always make specific plans, practice seriously early and stay proactive in the face of all challenges. It is this careful preparation and progressive spirit that is the valuable baggage that helps me confidently enter the contest.
Lost 10kg in 6 months, no days off
- As a rookie beauty pageant contestant, how has Phuong Linh seen her mentality change since she first faced pressure from public opinion and comparisons until now?
From the beginning, I was under a lot of pressure because I knew that I did not have an outstanding background and could easily be compared to experienced candidates. I prepared myself mentally by listing my strengths and weaknesses to understand myself - to promote my strengths and improve my weaknesses before the competition.
Now, I don't feel pressured anymore because I understand that each person is a separate individual. Public pressure only came after the contest, but luckily it hasn't affected me much.
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- What difficulties did Phuong Linh encounter while losing more than 10kg in 6 months to prepare for the competition?
Losing 10kg in 6 months requires perseverance and effort. I apply a basic, scientific method: eat fewer calories and exercise more to create a daily calorie deficit. I prepare clean food, control calories and exercise every day - jogging, lifting weights or pole dancing.
I was lucky to prepare early because losing weight in a short period of time is stressful. Even though I don't lose weight quickly, I see myself making a little progress each day, and I appreciate the effort even more.
- Can Phuong Linh reveal the cost invested to attend Miss Universe Vietnam?
I don’t have time to list all the expenses yet, but I can share some of the main ones. The biggest investment is learning skills like catwalk, performance, and communication to be more confident on stage. I want to enter the competition with the most complete preparation.
In addition, I also learned makeup, took photos to build my personal image, rented costumes as well as paid for travel and living expenses during the competition.
Listen to understand, not to argue.
- What does love mean to you at the moment and will the beauty queen title affect how you choose a future partner?
Love is an important part of life, it brings positive emotions and helps me feel fulfilled from within. Only when I am fulfilled can I spread positive energy to everyone. I appreciate all forms of love - from romantic love to love for people, nature and life.
As for whether the title affects the way I choose a partner - honestly I haven't thought about it because I've only been a beauty queen for a few days. I need more time to adapt to my new role and think more carefully about this.
- Is there any special memory with the group of 4 close friends that taught Phuong Linh how to appreciate differences and maintain lasting relationships?
We have been friends for 12 years, through all the arguments and ups and downs. In high school, maybe because we couldn't control our emotions, we argued a few times. In the past 3-4 years, we haven't had any big arguments.
Now, if there is a conflict, we always choose to speak out openly and listen to each other's views in the spirit of "listening to understand" rather than "listening to argue".
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- Learning pole dancing and participating in beauty pageants are two things that are easily seen as Phuong Linh's way of trying to discover herself. So what "areas" have Phuong Linh explored or want to explore that she has never revealed?
Besides pole dancing and beauty pageants, I also work out at a high intensity to challenge my limits.
Before the competition, I signed up for scuba diving lessons in Phu Quoc but had to postpone because of rough seas. Now that the competition is over, the course has been extended for quite a while.
- Many representatives from many countries came to attend Miss Universe Vietnam 2025, who impressed Phuong Linh the most?
As contestants, we did not have the opportunity to interact with international representatives. After being crowned, at the celebration party, I had the opportunity to greet my friends. When I was preparing to go on stage, the Thai representative ran up to take a photo with me and sent her sincere congratulations. She was very cute with a kind face like an angel.
Nguyen Hoang Phuong Linh crowned Miss Universe Vietnam 2025:
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/hanh-trinh-khong-ngo-cua-tan-binh-tro-thanh-hoa-hau-hoan-vu-viet-nam-2025-2415415.html
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