The organisers of Miss Universe Vietnam 2026 have barred titleholder Nguyễn Quỳnh Anh from stage performances for six months and suspended first runner-up Trịnh Mỹ Anh from stage performances for three months, both counted from the date the decision takes effect. The penalties were announced on the afternoon of 25 October, following the spread on social media of screenshots from a private group chat in which people connected to the contest were mocked and gossiped about, Tuổi Trẻ, Thanh Niên and VnExpress reported.
The decision
Compiled by KBVN+ from the three reports:
| Item | Nguyễn Quỳnh Anh | Trịnh Mỹ Anh |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Miss Universe Vietnam 2026 | First runner-up |
| Penalty | No stage performances | Stage performances suspended |
| Length | 6 months | 3 months |
| Fine | As decided by the competent authorities | As decided by the competent authorities, if any |
The periods run from the date the decision takes effect. None of the reports gave that date or the size of any fine.
The decision was announced by director and producer Phạm Duy Khánh, chief executive of Five6 Entertainment and head of the organising committee, Tuổi Trẻ reported. VnExpress said his company also manages both women and that the decision followed meetings with those involved and with the judging panel. According to Thanh Niên, the organisers' statement said they had worked with the competent authorities to review and verify the case.
Khánh said the penalty was meant to raise awareness of responsibility in what people in the beauty industry say and how they behave, and to uphold the standards expected of them, VnExpress reported. In Mỹ Anh's case, the organisers said the measure was meant to stress the responsibilities that come with holding a title and the need for care in public speech and conduct, Thanh Niên reported.
How the row unfolded
A KBVN+ timeline drawn from the three reports:
- 2 October: Nguyễn Quỳnh Anh is crowned at the Miss Universe Vietnam 2026 final in Hải Phòng (VnExpress).
- About 10 days after the final: a conversation said to come from a private group chat including Quỳnh Anh and Mỹ Anh spreads across several platforms (VnExpress).
- 12 October: the organisers post a notice on their fan page saying they are aware of the messages and are reviewing and verifying them (Tuổi Trẻ).
- 13 October: the two women publicly admit they were wrong, apologise to those involved and to the public, and say the episode is a lesson to help them grow (VnExpress).
- 21 October: the Thailand-based licence holder for six Southeast Asian countries, run by Nawat Itsaragrisil, confirms that Quỳnh Anh and the titleholders of Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Laos and Malaysia will not travel to Puerto Rico for the 75th Miss Universe, citing its dispute with the Miss Universe organisation (VnExpress).
- 25 October: the organisers announce the penalties.
Our earlier coverage of Vietnam's absence from this year's pageant: Miss Universe Vietnam Quỳnh Anh out of Miss Universe 2026 amid licensing dispute.
Who they are
According to VnExpress, Quỳnh Anh is 27, from Hanoi and 1.75 m tall. She was runner-up at The Face Vietnam 2018, won the Siêu mẫu châu Á (Asian supermodel) contest, and has acted, most recently in Lời hứa đầu tiên. Mỹ Anh, 23, is also 1.75 m tall; she won the Miss Earth Water title at Miss Earth 2025, studied at Thuongmai University (Đại học Thương mại) and now works as a model and executive director.
What happens next
The suspensions start once the decision takes effect, while any fines depend on the competent authorities. Khánh said the organisers would keep working with the authorities to verify and deal with the related content, stressing that every decision within their remit is based on the contest's rules, verified information and the relevant regulations, Tuổi Trẻ reported.