Miss Vietnam Intercontinental thanks bashers amid ‘copying’ Catriona Gray claims

Ngan was bested by the Philippines’s Karen Gallman who took home the Miss International crown. The Vietnamese beauty queen finished fourth runner-up and earned the People Choice award. (File photo: ngananh.official/Instagram)

After the grand coronation night for this year’s Miss Intercontinental, Miss Vietnam Ngan Anh Le Au did not forget to thank her supporters but also gave her gratitude to her bashers for their “hurtful words” that made her much stronger.

Ngan first thanked the Miss Intercontinental Organization for giving the candidates such a “memorable gathering” in the country via an Instagram post on Monday, January 28.

“Thank you for teaching us how to be responsible, disciplined and focused to overcome our comfort zones to pursue our dreams,” she said.

“For my fellow contestants, thank you for giving me the opportunities to know you and become good sisters. I will never forget the way you celebrated my birthday together. I love you all,” she continued.

Ngan, of course, also thanked her family, team, and supporters who are always standing behind her back since the beginning. But the beauty queen did not only thank those who helped her all throughout her pageant journey as she did not forget to express gratitude to her critics as well.

“Last but not least, for my bashers, thank you for your negativities to make me become [a] positive-minded person,” she wrote.

She continued, “Thank you for your hurtful words to make me stronger and be a reason for me to pursue my advocacy against cyber-bullying on the world stage.”

Though she did not drop any specifications, over the weekend, netizens made a loud buzz on social media as they reacted to the Vietnamese beauty queen’s performance and look during the pageant which was held last Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena (MOA).

Posting some video clips and photos of Ngan, many netizens said the beauty queen “copied” Miss Universe Catriona Gray’s Mayon Volcano-inspired gown designed by Filipino designer Mak Tumang, which she wore during the Miss Universe coronation night, as well as her now-iconic lava walk.

“Miss Vietnam trying to copy Catriona’s gown, walk, and pose… BUT SHE FAILED,” netizen @chiaaacasanova tweeted.

Twitter user @nyeeelll, meanwhile, shared how she adores Vietnam’s bet in the Miss Universe pageant but said she just “can’t accept” why Miss Vietnam in Miss Intercontinental 2018 “dared to copy Catriona in the most obvious way.”

Some netizens even poked fun, comparing Catriona’s blazing red gown to photos of products you see when you shop online versus the Vietnamese beauty queen’s red sparkling one which would be what the product would look like when it actually arrives.

Despite having others bash her online, some netizens were quick to defend Ngan.

Netizen @cmlvr said, “Eh kung ginaya nga si Catriona, I-take na lang (If she really copied Catriona, then let us just take it) as a compliment. At least we left a mark diba (right) hahahahaha.”

On the other hand, social media user @warraaayy, tweeted, “‘Yung mga galit na galit kay Miss Vietnam kasi ginaya si Catriona, hindi ba pwedeng na-inspire lang siya? Gaya agad? Oa na frens (Those who are angry at Miss Vietnam because she imitated Catriona, can’t it just be that she was just inspired? Copy, really? You are overacting friends).”

Twitter user @RoboticKiller, meanwhile, urged others to stop discriminating Ngan, adding that they should not bring the country down “because of our toxicity.”

As of writing, Catriona, Mak, and their camp have yet to release their take on the issue.

Ngan was bested by the Philippines’s Karen Gallman who took home the Miss International crown. The Vietnamese beauty queen finished fourth runner-up and earned the People Choice award.

[READ: Karen Gallman becomes first Filipina to win Miss Intercontinental crown]