In the episode aired on 17/8, Pham An landed in the bottom group alongside Ai Bang, Uyen Do, and Tam Thanh. In the elimination room, she faced judge Thanh Hang. When asked to self-evaluate, she said, "I don't think my performance was so bad that I should be here. I'm quite surprised, actually.".
Pham An's statement and expression led Thanh Hang to believe the contestant was being disrespectful. The supermodel corrected her: "Who do you think you're talking to? Am I your friend? You need to understand that most negative situations arise from attitude.".
Many viewers felt Pham An's behavior towards her seniors in the industry was inappropriate and arrogant. Fashion designer Do Manh Cuong commented, "Confidence is essential for a model, but a negative attitude will hinder success.".
Thanh Hang explained her strictness, saying she wanted to help the contestants develop and have long-lasting careers, not because of personal feelings or dislike.
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Thanh Hang corrects contestant Pham An’s (left) attitude during elimination. |
Pham An apologized to Thanh Hang, explaining her facial expressions are easily misinterpreted as having an attitude. She insisted she didn't mean to disrespect the judge. However, due to her inconsistent performance and poor showing in episode 3, Pham An was eliminated.
Earlier, contestant Giang Phung was also reprimanded by Thanh Hang for her behavior after completing an aerial photoshoot. The model advised her junior to thank the crew, photographer, and assistants before leaving.
Executive producer and director Trang Le said the ninth season's format is more demanding. The top 15 contestants are experienced models, so the judges are more critical in their evaluations.
"Our goal is to find a Top Model who, after the show, will be chosen as a vedette by designers and confidently walk international runways," she said.
After three episodes, Vietnam's Next Top Model 2025 has presented more difficult challenges compared to previous seasons, such as aerial photoshoots, posing on horseback, and complex catwalks involving steep stairs, slopes, and gravel. In response to criticism that the challenges are overly difficult, creative director Ha Do explained that putting contestants in challenging situations reveals their resilience and ability to handle pressure. When developing the challenges, she and the team prioritized professionalism while ensuring safety and aesthetics.
The show returned after an eight-year hiatus. From thousands of applications, the judges selected the top 15 contestants after three days of casting in June. They will participate in various challenges to determine the winner, who will receive a 300 million VND prize. The winner will also have the opportunity to walk at international fashion weeks in the UK, France, and Italy, and appear on the cover of a prestigious fashion magazine.
Vietnam's Next Top Model is adapted from America's Next Top Model, created by supermodel Tyra Banks. The first season aired in 2010. Over eight seasons, the show has launched the careers of many successful models like Trang Khieu, Tuyet Lan, Hoang Thuy, Ngoc Chau, Mau Thuy, H’Hen Nie, Huong Ly, Nguyen Hop, Nguyen Oanh, and Kim Dung. After an "all-star" season (featuring notable contestants from previous years) in 2017, the show went on hiatus and recently returned.
Tan Cao
Photos, video: Provided by the program
