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Woman representing country not Miss Vietnam
Organisers have allowed Pham Thu Hang to compete, but officials in her home country claim she didn't earn the sash.
A week before Miss Vietnam was set to stride across the stage in her swimsuit and evening gown at the Miss Universe pageant, officials in her home country on Tuesday said she hadn't earned the sash.
Pageant organisers say Pham Thu Hang, 22, can compete in the May 31 competition in Bangkok, Thailand, but Vietnamese officials said the real Miss Vietnam is studying in the United Kingdom and that Hang merely won a local contest.
"She was the winner of a Hanoi beauty contest," said Le Ngoc Cuong, director of the Ministry of Culture's Performance Art Department. "She is not qualified to represent Vietnam."
Cuong said his office has asked the Hanoi department that licensed the Miss Hanoi contest to have the final say on whether Hang can represent Vietnam.
Miss Universe pageant organizers were told of Hang's situation weeks ago and agreed to allow
her to compete, said MaryHilliard Harrington, spokeswoman for the pageant.
"We are confident that this is Miss Vietnam and Miss Vietnam Universe," she said. "We believe these are rumours started by the press in Vietnam."
Harrington said Miss Universe organizers reached their conclusion after looking at documentation, photos and video along with speaking to someone in Vietnam who helped organize the Miss Universe pageant there.
