During the evening gown competition on 31/7 in TP HCM, Emoura Pham wore a design by fashion house Nguyen Phuc Tuan. Unlike many contestants who opted for daring cut-out and sheer dresses in a sensual style, Emoura Pham chose a gown that exuded elegance.

The designer shared that his inspiration came from the ceramic mosaic art at the tomb of Empress Le Thien Anh, part of the Tu Duc King's tomb complex in Hue. The golden metallic hue symbolizes power and good fortune. He crafted a bustier silhouette with a cinched waist and hips to accentuate the body's curves. The focal point is a phoenix motif, hand-drawn by the team, then gilded and adorned with stones, a process that took nearly one month to complete.

The gown set Emoura Pham (center) apart in the top 5 of the competition.

Nguyen Phuc Tuan recalled that Emoura Pham initially doubted if the gown was a suitable choice for a pageant stage. However, after learning about the symbolic meaning of the phoenix, she changed her mind, believing the outfit would make a distinct statement. "I lived abroad for many years and had few opportunities to directly engage with and understand traditional culture. Through fashion, I feel an increasing pride in my homeland and roots," she stated.

The beauty queen paired the gown with large, matching metallic earrings, red lipstick, and an elegant high bun. Emoura Pham's choice garnered praise from fans across beauty forums. MC Thanh Thanh Huyen remarked that while watching the contestants perform, she was most impressed by Emoura Pham's gown and catwalk.

Rendered design and actual garment.

Emoura Pham, 26 years old, hails from TP HCM and is of Vietnamese-British heritage. She is 1,7 m tall with measurements of 80-60-92 cm. Throughout the competition, fans affectionately called her the "mixed-race rose" for her sharp, modern features. Judges commended Emoura Pham for her intellect, language proficiency, and vibrant energy on stage. The new queen has two months to prepare before competing in Miss Grand International 2026 in October in India.

Previously, actress Ly Nha Ky (left) wore the gown at an international event. In May, singer Ho Quynh Huong also wore the outfit on stage for a concert in Ha Noi.

Designer Nguyen Phuc Tuan, 32, is from Hue and descends from the Nguyen dynasty. He initially studied architecture before transitioning to fashion nearly 10 years ago. He has contributed to costume design for several films, including Gai gia lam chieu V, Biet doi rat on, and Bo tu bao thu. He has also launched personal collections such as Thu quyen ru, Em, Hue Pluie, and Queen Tea. His expertise lies in form construction and haute couture hand-embellishment. Earlier this year, Nguyen Phuc Tuan debuted his collection Numero 5 Nguoi dau yeu, inspired by daffodils, which was worn by many celebrities like Ho Ngoc Ha, Le Quyen, My Tam, Ly Nha Ky, Bao Ngoc, Thanh Thuy, Thien An, Ky Duyen, Quynh Anh, Van Mai Huong, and Huong Tram at various events.

Tan Cao

Photos, video: Organizer provided