Nguyễn Trần Khánh Vân
Nguyễn Trần Khánh Vân (born 25 February 1995) is a Vietnamese model, actress, and beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss Universe Vietnam 2019 competition and became Miss Universe Vietnam 2020. She represented Vietnam at Miss Universe 2020 pageant and finished as a Top 21 semi-finalist. Early life and education. Khánh Vân was born in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). She attended the Ho Chi Minh City University of Theater Stage and Cinema, where she graduated with a degree in stage and film. Pageantry. Khánh Vân began her pageantry career in 2013, when she was  crowned Miss Teen Áo dài Vietnam 2013, a Vietnamese beauty pageant where young women compete wearing the traditional "áo dài" national garment. Afterwards, she placed as the second runner-up in the Vietnamese pageant Miss Star 2014. Khánh Vân began participating in more major national pageants this year as well, placing in the Top 38 contestants compete in the coronation nighit in Miss Vietnam 2014, and later the Top 10 in Miss Universe Vietnam 2015. In 2018, she competed in the Vietnamese model search competition "Vietnam Supermodel 2018", in which she was mentored by Vietnamese singer and presenter Hương Giang . Khánh Vân advanced to the finale of the series until being declared one of the runners-up. Afterwards, she returned to pageantry and competed in Miss Universe Vietnam 2019. Khánh Vân advanced through the multiple stages of the competition, ultimately being crowned the winner by outgoing titleholder H'Hen Niê. As the winner of Miss Universe Vietnam 2019, she became Miss Universe Vietnam 2020 and represented Vietnam at Miss Universe 2020. Miss Universe 2020. The 69th Miss Universe competition was supposed to be held in 2020, but delayed to May 2021 due to the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the  winner of Miss Universe Vietnam 2020, Khánh Vân joined Miss Universe 2020 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida with other 73 women from around the world. According to Miss Universe official website, Khánh Vân's biography is described as: During the national costume competition on May 14, 2021, she impressed the audiences by wearing "Kén Em", a Cocoon costume inspired by the image of the silkworm cocoon used in silk weaving. "Kén Em" was 100 percent made using a meticulous hand-knitting technique, which also symbolizes the virtuous and patient spirit of the Vietnamese people. It was  one of the six favorite national costumes chosen by Catriona Gray, the former Miss Universe 2018. After the preliminary competition and closed-door interview, Khánh Vân advanced to the top 21 semi-finalists and received the highest number of fan votes in the history of Miss Universe.