Vietnam's Next Top Model, Cycle 1 is the first cycle of Top Model franchise to be produced in Vietnam by Vietnam Television and Multimedia JSC. The premiere was on September 30, 2010. In the season finale, the top 3 competed against each other on a stage.
The season filmed entirely in Ho Chi Minh City and featured 18 competitorsgirls Vietnam’s next top Model chính thức tuyển chọn aged between 18 and 25 and whose height was 5'5" and over.
Among with the prize were: A two-year contract with CA Models worth 1,000,000,000₫ (approximately $50,000) A one-year contract with Wilhelmina Models in New York City Appear on the cover of Her World magazine A two-year VIP Diamond Membership card at California Fitness & Yoga Center worth 300,000,000₫ (~$14,400) A Piaggio Vespa LX 150 A diamond ring from Unique Jewelries worth 200,000,000₫ (~$9,600) A 2-year supply of Revlon worth 200,000,000₫ (~$9,600).
The winner was 20-year-old Khiếu Thị Huyền Trang from Bắc Giang.First Vietnam’s Next Top Model crowns winner, Tuổi Trẻ, date: 2011-01-24.
Host and judges At the beginning of the show, Nathan Lee and Elizabeth Thủy Tiên were criticized for competing to lead the judging panel. Nathan Lee is a former international supermodel who speaks fluent Vietnamese, while female supermodel Elizabeth lived overseas for so long that her Vietnamese deteriorated. They were both replaced after two episodes. The new judging members were model Vũ Nguyễn Hà Anh, designer Huy Võ and former male model Đức Hải.
The replacement jury complained that they had no chance to pick contestants, weakening the field. The original jury reported that producers also refused to allow them choose the contestants, leading them to resign.Thay đổi toàn bộ giám khảo cuộc thi VN's Next Top Model 2010, laodong.com.vn, by Anh Cuông, date: 2010-10-09. The producers, however, announced that the change was because Nathan Lee and Elizabeth competed against each other for the host position and because there were so many conflicts between judges and producers, etc.Nathan Lee không muốn dựa hơi scandal, VnExpress, by Ngọc Trần, date: 2010-10-16.
Contestants
ContestantAgeHeightHometownFinishPlace 18 Hải PhòngEpisode 415-14Trần Lê Hoài Thương22TP.HCM 19 Hà NộiEpisode 513 18 Hà NộiEpisode 612 20 Bà Rịa–Vũng TàuEpisode 711 21 Hà NộiEpisode 810 21 Thừa Thiên-HuếEpisode 99 19 Hải PhòngEpisode 108 20 Phú ThọEpisode 117 21 Lạng SơnEpisode 126 21 Vĩnh PhúcEpisode 135 20 Hà NộiEpisode 144 20 Hà NộiEpisode 163 Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Lan 20 TP.HCM2Khiếu Thị Huyền Trang 20 Bắc Giang1
Episode summaries
Casting weeks Air date: September 30 & October 7, 2010 Contestants gathered at White Palace for casting. Every girl had to walk on a long runway and showed her signature poses. 60 made it to the next round, before being further cut to 24 and then 14. The final fourteen sat down with judges to discuss their strengths and weakness. Nine girls advanced to the final round simultaneously after they knew the first five girls had been eliminated.
One week later, the show moved to Hanoi. Like the previous casting format, every contestant had to express herself in front of a crowd. Another nine girls were added from their photos to make a field of 18.
Featured photographer: Kevin Freeman Judges: Hoàng Ngân, Nathan Lee, Elizabeth Thủy Tiên
Week 3 Air date: October 14, 2010 The 18 contestants arrived at International Asiana Hotel where Germ Doornbos and Le Khiet invited them to a grand party. Mỹ Phương won the first challenge with her friendly look and her elegant manners. The prize was a VIP double room that she shared with Tuyết Lan. In late afternoon, the girls met Hà Anh the new head judge. Anh asked them to perform a runway walk and gave advice. Bùi Thùy won the runway challenge and got two outfits from Candy Rox Brand. Hoài Thương also won a prize.
The week's photo shoot took place in Nguyễn Long Studio where the girls met the new second judge Huy Võ and photographer Nguyễn Long. Some were unused to shooting, so Hà Anh helped them relax through music and dance.
At the judging panel, the last main judge appeared. Thu Hiền wowed the judging with a spectacular moment of beauty that was totally in contrast to her appearance, as did Diệp Anh. Most girls did not perform well due to lack of experience. Hà Anh revealed that four girls would be sent home. In the end, only three girls left instead of four, including: Bích Trâm, Bảo Trân and Quý Dung, because judges could not unanimously eliminate either Thanh Hằng nor Giáng Hương.
Featured photographer: Nguyễn Long Special guests: Mrs. Hoàng Thạch Thảo, Mr. Germ Doornbos, Mr. Lê Khiết, Jennifer Nguyen
Week 4 Air date: October 21, 2010 The 15 remaining girls moved to their Top Model House, but there were only 12 beds. Bùi Thùy who didn't find any slot, asked Thu Hiền to share the big bed. Unexpectedly, she sat on Thu Hiền's pillow and took her beauty shot, resulting in the first catfight.
Next morning, well-known make-up artist Thanh Phước dropped by to teach make-up tips. In this week's challenge, the girls were tasked to walk on a well-known avenue. Đàm Trang received all of the prizes and shared them with Diệp Anh.
The judging panel again praised Thu Hiền and Phạm Hương for their Vietnamese and stunning faces. Thanh Hằng, Thu Thủy and Tuyết Lan showed almost the same look week after week and were criticized. Ultimately, Thanh Hương, Hoài Thương and Thu Thủy landed into the bottom three with ill performances; only Thu Thủy was saved.
First call-out: Trần Thị Thu Hiền Bottom three: Lại Thị Thanh Huong, Trần Lê Hoài Thương & Nguyễn Thu Thủy Eliminated: Lại Thị Thanh Huong & Trần Lê Hoài Thương Featured photographer: Freedom Special guests: Thanh Phước, Lê Quốc Tuấn
Week 5 Air date: October 28 Thu Thùy continued made mistakes that isolated her from the others. Diệp Anh found she couldn't take the pressure, so she talked with Bùi Thùy to deal with the problems between Bùi Thùy and the other girls. Tensions eased at Thanh Hoa's birthday party.
The week's photo shoot required girls to portray 1920s Vietnamese women living in a haunted mansion for the Halloween portfolio. Hà Anh directed the girls. Most of the photos received mixed to positive reviews, especially, Thu Thủy, Thanh Hoa, Thu Hiền and Mỹ Phương. Judges were quite impressed by the improvements of Thu Thủy and Thanh Hoa whose weak expressions led to expectations that they wouldn't last. Bùi Thùy was sent home although the judges felt that she had a unique look.
First call-out: Thu Thủy Bottom two: Bùi Thùy & Hương Phạm Eliminated: Bùi Thùy Featured photographer: Kevin German Special guests: Miss Mint, Al Morgan, Randy Dobson, Annie Nguyen
Week 6 Air date: November 4, 2010 Hà Anh informed twelve girls that they would receive makeovers. At night, Hà Anh made a surprise visit to the house. She joined hands with the contestants to cook for dinner and shared runway tips. Thanh Hoa won the challenge and got high-heeled shoes from Hà Anh's collection. The next morning, they went to Đầm Sen Park and did a runway walk with bulldogs. Boma and Đức Hải were impressed by how Thu Thủy walked and dealt with the dogs. As the winner, Thu Thủy shared the prizes randomly with Phạm Hương. Thu Thủy opened the show with a Bebe Pham fashion show that featured many Vietnamese Top Models.
The weekly photo shoot required models to pose as leaping athletes, while portraying sports listed below:
Contestant Artistic sport Diệp Anh Sport aerobics Thanh Hằng Badminton Thu Hiền Taekwondo Thanh Hoa Rhythmic gymnastics Giáng Hương Long jump Phạm Hương Muay Thai Tuyết Lan Football Hoàng Oanh High jump Mỹ Phương Skipping rope Thu Thủy Athletics Huyền Trang Kickboxing Thu Trang Floor exercise
At panel, Boma, Randy Dobson and David Dougan sat in as guest judges. Thanh Hoa and Giáng Hương received universal praise and an offer from Randy, the President of California Center and of CA Models. The girls would feature on the main site of California Club and will a worldwide ad for one month. Thanh Hằng was found boring and landed her in the bottom two with 12-year-old-child look-alike Hoàng Oanh. At the end, Thanh Hằng was out.
First call-out: Thanh Hoa Bottom two: Thanh Hằng & Hoàng Oanh Eliminated: Thanh Hằng Featured photographer: David Dougan Special guests: Boma Sandra, Randy Dobson
Week 7 Air date: November 11, 2010 Editors from Her World magazine talked with contestants about their strengths and weaknesses prior to a shopping challenge at Vincom Center. Mỹ Phương won the reward challenge, but the other girls disagreed because her outfit was too similar to the challenge judge's. Next day, Hà Anh and Huy Võ took them to a nightclub. They met rocker Phạm Anh Khoa who appeared in the week's photo shoot. Thu Hiền won the week. Mỹ Phương was praised as a rock princess. Hoàng Oanh was sent home.
First call-out: Thu Hiền Bottom three: Giáng Hương, Thu Thủy & Hoàng Oanh Eliminated: Hoàng Oanh Featured photographer: Kevin German Featured designs: Hà Trương Special guests: Editors from Her World (Nguyễn Hồng Hạnh, Hà Mi, Kim Thuận, Thùy Linh), Donia Medini, Phạm Anh Khoa, Hà Trương
Week 8 Air date: November 18, 2010 Mrs. Thiên Hương came to their house and shared her experiences. Diệp Anh won the close talk. She got mad at Huyền Trang and stated that she would leave the unfair competition, but was prevented. In the other challenge, the girls were supposedly at a Press Conference and received some unexpected questions. Thu Hiền won this challenge. She had a chance to be at the red carpet of Jimmy Choo New Brand Launch in Vietnam. She picked Tuyết Lan up to go accompany her.
At the photo shoot, the girls were required to portray 1940s ladies living in Saigon. During deliberation, Thanh Hoa and Đàm Trang wowed judges because they knew how to work with their not too perfect bodies and faces. Others didn't know, especially Phạm Hương. That landed her into the bottom two with Diệp Anh. Judges felt Diệp Anh should be a choreographer rather than be a model and sent her home.
First call-out: Đàm Trang Bottom two: Diệp Anh & Phạm Hương Eliminated: Diep Anh Featured photographer: David Dougan Featured designs: Hà Khúc Nhật Minh, Diệu Anh Special guests: editors from Her World Magazine (Trần Nguyễn Thiên Hương, Hoàng Nguyên Vũ, Huyền Ngọc), Dolev "Sunshine" Sadan
Week 9 Air date: November 25, 2010 Boma stopped by for a while, picked 3 girls up alongside Thu Thủy and Phạm Hương for a Bebe Fashion Show. After the show, they went home with hopes that they would be celebrated. Tensions rose when they were ignored. Next day, all girls were invited for dinner with guests. Hà Anh revealed the most important person of the day was Đàm Vinh Hưng who surprised the girls. At the end of the night, they walked for Đỗ Mạnh Cường as a runway challenge. Thu Hiền won again and shared a set of Unique Diamond Jewelry with Thu Thủy.
At the photo shoot they were frightened by a python, which was in the pictures with them.
At judging panel, the judges were displeased by Mỹ Phương's single facial expression; of Thu Hiền's instability and of Thu Thủy's inability to transfer emotion and personality to a photo. Huyền Trang once again made judges feel like she didn't know her advantages, but the photo was quite good. As a result, Mỹ Phương packed her bags and went home over her lack of versatility.
First call-out: NguyễnGiáng Hương Bottom two: Đỗ Thị Thanh Hoa & Hồ Mỹ Phương Eliminated: Hồ Mỹ Phương Featured photographer: Freedom Featured designs: Đỗ Mạnh Cường Special guests: Mr. Bùi Tân Xuân, designer Đỗ Mạnh Cường, Đàm Vĩnh Hưng
Week 10 Air date: December 2, 2010 The girls shoot their first Unique commercial.
First call-out: Nguyễn Thu Thủy Bottom two:Đỗ Thị Thanh Hoa & Hương Phạm Eliminated: Hương Phạm Featured director: Featured designs: Special guests: Thanh Loan, Minh Tiệp, Charlie Nguyễn
Week 11 Air date: December 9, 2010