HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese model Nguyễn Diệu Linh made it to the top 10 of Miss Tourism Queen International 2018 held in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 16.

The 27-year-old also won the Miss Global Tourism title at the contest.

Camila Reis (28), Miss TQI Brazil, was crowned Miss Tourism Queen International 2018.

She will serve as the tourism ambassador to Thailand during her reign.

Reis is the first woman from Brazil to hold this title, leaving behind 54 other contestants. She claimed the glittering new crown and a cash prize of US$10,000.

Victoria Nomarova from Tatarstan, Russia, finished second while Rachel Nimegeers from Belgium came third.

The fourth and fifth positions were won by Sinziana Sirghi from Romania and Chatrthira Michas from Thailand, respectively.

The remaining contestants in the top 10 were from Russia, Việt Nam, Indonesia, South Africa and Costa Rica. 

The organisers also gave out special awards: Best National Costume (Bali), Best Swimsuit (Tatarstan), Best Smile (Japan), Best Talent (Russia), Miss Friendship (Denmark), Miss Charity (South Africa), Miss Charm (Finland), Miss Personality (Guinea), Miss Elegant (Bolivia), Best Evening Gown (the Philippines), Miss Popularity (Thailand), Miss Photogenic (Singapore), Miss Le Skin (China), Miss Skin Beauty (Laos), Miss Tourism Queen of Africa (Ethiopia), Miss Tourism Queen of Oceania (New Zealand), Miss Tourism Queen of Europe (Poland), Miss Tourism Queen of America (Mexico) and Miss Tourism Queen of Asia (Malaysia).

Miss Tourism Queen International was founded by Charlie See. Since 1949, more than 80 countries have been occasionally holding this competition for their Miss Tourism National Queen. Mogolian beauty Namshir Anu was crowned Miss Tourism Queen International last year.

The contest this year saw 55 beauties making it to the final round. The competition was held from May 7-16.

Before her name was announced in the top 10, Linh revealed she felt nervous as she among the oldest contestants in the competition. But according to her, she gave her best.

Her dress for the National Costume round was inspired by the Mông ethnic costume and was designed by Ngô Mạnh Đông Đông. The costume was made from the wedding dress of women from the ethnic group in the northern province of Hà Giang. The fabric was hand-embroidered with decorative patterns and was paired with silver accessories. The costume weighed 30kg.

Linh, who is from the northern city of Hải Phòng, stands 1.74m tall, measures 86cm-63cm-91cm and weighs 52kg. She was among the top 10 in the Super Model Vietnam contest in 2010. She has been a professional model ever since.

At the Miss Tourism Queen International 2014 in China, she was among the top 10 and had won Miss Southeast Asia and Best National Costume titles.

In 2016, Đặng Phạm Phương Chi also made it to the top 10 at the contest. — VNS