Trans Miss Universe contestant shares moving reason she wore traditional Vietnamese outfit on stage
Miss Universe’s latest trans contestant, Miss Vietnam, Nguyen Huong Giang (Miss Universe YouTube channel)
Miss Universe's latest trans contestant, Miss Vietnam, Nguyen Huong Giang (Miss Universe YouTube channel)
Trans Miss Universe contestant, Miss Vietnam Nguyen Huong Giang, has explained her moving reason for wearing a traditional Vietnamese outfit during the costume showcase.
On Wednesday (19 November), Giang, who is the only trans contestant in this year’s line up, chose to wear a white áo dài for the showcase, a national garment that is considered Vietnam’s national costume.
She wore the look effortlessly and walked the runway with a bicycle and conical hat bearing the Vietnam flag.
Giang posed elegantly, at one point raising the hat to her head, allowing the simplicity of her outfit and her silky hair to stand out.
@huonggiangofficial National Costume Miss Universe VIETNAM – Nguyen Huong Giang ✨🇻🇳 #HuongGiang #The74thMissUniverse #MissUniverse #MissUniverseVietnam ♬ nhạc nền – HƯƠNG GIANG
‘The dream may come late…’
As reported by DTiNews, she opened up about her choice to wear the outfit, sharing that it fulfilled a dream she didn’t get to live throughout her school years.
“The dream may come late, but it arrives in the most beautiful way,” she said. She added that her look was a nod to Vietnamese youth and to the cultural memory of heading to class shared across generations.
Giang is a singer, model and producer, who first gained public attention on Vietnam Idol. She is the country’s first Miss International Queen and works to champion LGBTQ+ equality.
In a statement on Instagram, after it was confirmed she would represent her country, Giang said that her inclusion is “a door to equality and hope, which is something no other major pageant had chosen to do.”
She added, “Miss Universe has become a stage where, no matter your circumstances, all women are women, lifting each other up and shining together in front of billions.”
Miss Universe 2025 is taking place in Thailand from 2 November to 21 November, featuring 123 contestants from across the world.
In a move towards inclusivity, the pageant has removed its upper age limit, which was previously set at 28, and opened its doors to married women, mothers and trans women, meaning anyone (over the age of 18) can now compete.
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