Sen Vang Entertainment officially terminated its contract with Miss Grand International 2021 Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien on May 20, 2025, following her criminal indictment and arrest related to the Kera vegetable candy scandal.

The decision was announced shortly after authorities charged Thuy Tien with “deceiving consumers” in connection with the misleading promotion and sale of the product.

In an official statement, Sen Vang emphasized that the contract termination was conducted “in full compliance with agreed terms and the law,” describing it as “a mandatory legal procedure in light of current developments.”

The company also clarified its position, distancing itself from Thuy Tien’s personal business dealings:

“All business cooperation, profit-sharing, and equity investments by Ms. Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien with any external individuals or organizations were done solely under her personal capacity. Sen Vang had no involvement, representation, or economic interest in those activities.”

Despite the termination, Sen Vang acknowledged Thuy Tien’s positive contributions to culture and society during her reign as Miss Grand International 2021. The company affirmed its commitment to transparency and legality, stating:

“This contract termination does not reflect a personal stance or deny Ms. Thuy Tien’s past achievements.”

Thuy Tien rose to fame as one of Vietnam’s most beloved beauty queens after winning the Miss Grand International title in 2021. With her approachable image, charitable work, and advocacy for social responsibility, she earned the affectionate nickname "national queen" among fans.

However, her public image began to crumble in February 2025 amid the Kera vegetable candy scandal. Independent tests revealed the product’s fiber content was just 0.935%, sparking widespread backlash. Initially, Thuy Tien was believed to be merely a brand ambassador.

She remained silent at first, deleting promotional posts before issuing two public apologies on March 6 and March 15.

Investigators later uncovered her true involvement: Thuy Tien was not just a promoter, but a founding shareholder of Chị Em Rọt Group, holding 30% equity and earning profits accordingly.

Authorities revealed that she had profited nearly 7 billion VND (approx. $275,000) from over 135,000 units sold, generating 18 billion VND (approx. $710,000) in total revenue. Critically, investigators found she knowingly misrepresented the product’s fiber content to exaggerate its health benefits.

In her statement, Thuy Tien admitted she volunteered to help operate the business after her first livestream in December 2024, claiming the product had “exciting ideas.” When controversy erupted in February 2025, she proposed signing a formal advertising contract to obscure her role as a shareholder.

On April 3, she was fined 25 million VND (approx. $1,000) by the National Competition Commission for failing to disclose paid sponsorship in her promotional content. On March 15, her exit from Vietnam was officially barred for two months to aid the investigation. On May 19, she was formally indicted and detained for “deceiving consumers” under Article 198 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.

No crown revocation... for now

In response to the incident, Miss Grand International CEO Nawat Itsaragrisil confirmed he had verified the situation with Sen Vang, stating that Thuy Tien was indeed arrested over allegations of false advertising.

He emphasized that the scandal has no bearing on the Miss Grand International organization because her contract with MGI ended long ago.

“This is a personal matter. Had it occurred during her tenure, I would have been affected,” he said, adding that her current legal responsibilities lie entirely with her management company.

Regarding her title, Nawat stated that Thuy Tien will not be stripped of her Miss Grand International 2021 crown at this time, as the incident happened post-contract. However, he left the door open, saying he may reconsider depending on the outcome of the court trial.

MGI has since ceased using her image and no longer maintains any working relationship with her.

Ha Phuong