On 25/8, Bao Ngoc and 22 contestants entered the second round of the talent competition. She appeared in a modernized ao dai, embroidered with floral patterns, performing a mashup. The highlight was Bao Ngoc's performance on the Central Highlands stone xylophone and a rap segment that energized the atmosphere.

Bao Ngoc's talent performance.

As the beauty queen sang the chorus of the famous song "Heal the World", many contestants joined in. "Before the competition night, I maintained a relaxed mindset. I knew there were many talented contestants in this round, making it difficult to compete. What made me happiest was the opportunity to introduce a traditional musical instrument to international friends", Bao Ngoc said.

She learned to play the stone xylophone with a professional musician many months prior. According to Bao Ngoc, the most challenging aspect of this instrument is identifying the sound of each stone corresponding to a note to play the music correctly. Additionally, Bao Ngoc practiced vocals and recorded with teachers.

Behind the scenes of Bao Ngoc practicing the stone xylophone.

As a result, Grace Richardson from England won and secured a spot in the top 40. The other two contestants in the top three of the talent competition were the beauty queens from the Philippines and Guadeloupe.

After two weeks participating in Miss World at home, Bao Ngoc maintained her form, consistently placing in the top of preliminary rounds and receiving high praise from beauty specialized pages. In Sash Factor's second prediction board on 14/8, she rose from 3rd position to 1st place, ahead of strong contenders from Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, and the Czech Republic.

Her full name is Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc, 25 years old, from Can Tho. She is 1.86 m tall and graduated with distinction in Business Administration from International University, Vietnam National University, TP HCM. Bao Ngoc was the 1st runner-up Miss World Vietnam 2022 and was crowned Miss Intercontinental the same year. She founded the Gen Zero organization, pursuing projects on climate change and sustainable development.

Bao Ngoc backstage preparing for the competition round.

The competition season runs from 8/8 to 5/9, spanning three provinces: Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Khanh Hoa. 111 contestants wore ao dai for the opening ceremony on 12/8 at a square in Ha Long City. In Do Son, contestants planted mangrove forests and experienced crabbing, fishing, and kayaking. In Khanh Hoa, they participated in a street parade, ran to support breast cancer patients, and experienced traditional craft villages and cuisine.

Miss World was first held in 1951, making it one of the two largest and oldest beauty pageants globally, alongside Miss Universe. The platform honors the spirit of global solidarity by seeking young women with beauty, education, and meaningful community projects. After 72 seasons, the competition is being held for the first time in Vietnam, organized by Sen Vang company in collaboration with the Miss World Organization.

By Tan Cao. Photos, video: Courtesy of the subject's team.