HÀ NỘI — Male Model Contest 2018, the first reality show modeling competition for Vietnamese men, is set to kick off.

Vietnamese men between 18 and 30 years old who stand at least 1.75m tall will be eligible for the contest, whether they live inside or outside the country.

Qualifying rounds will take place in the North on December 22 and in the South on December 29. The final round will take place in the southern city of Vũng Tàu.

According to the organisers, there have only been two competitions for male models over the past 12 years: Manhunt Việt Nam 2006 and Mister Việt Nam 2010. Model Ngô Tiến Đoàn won in 2006 while Lê Khôi Nguyên won in 2010.

This new contest marks the first time in Việt Nam that a male modeling competition will be formatted like a reality television show and broadcast live on Youtube. The audience and judges will vote via the live stream.

The organisers said the new competition will have more pressure and challenges. Mister International 2018 Seung Hwan Lee and Mister Global 2017 Pedro Henrique will join Manhunt International 2017 Trương Ngọc Tình as judges.

The winner will be awarded a prize of cash and valuables worth a combined VNĐ500 million (US $21,500) and receive a first place trophy engraved on rare pearls worth VNĐ1 billion.

Model Ngọc Tình, head of the organising board, also revealed that Việt Nam has signed a contract to host Manhunt International 2019.

The winner will represent the country at next year’s Manhunt International contest in Việt Nam, while the two runners-up will compete at the Mister International and Mister Global contests. — VNS