Miss Eco Vietnam denies bribery allegations after Miss Eco International revoked franchise

Miss Eco Vietnam denied allegations that they attempted to influence the Miss Eco International 2026 pageant through bribery.

On Tuesday, Vietnam National Director Phan Kim Oanh released a statement on Facebook addressing the issue.

"I have never offered money, benefits, or any under-the-table deals to secure a title for the Vietnamese contestant," Oanh said in Vietnamese, as translated by Google Gemini.

"The only items I brought from Vietnam as gifts were five kilograms of mangoes and two packs of durian cakes," she added.

She also criticized the pageant over alleged logistical and organizational issues upon their arrival in Egypt, such as the lack of welcome at the airport, hotel conditions, lack of coordination, and additional fees, including a $200 deposit.

"To date, this deposit has not been refunded despite my multiple requests," she said.

Miss Eco International announced on Sunday that they are revoking the national license held by Miss Eco Vietnam.

"This decision follows the repeated and documented attempts by the Vietnam National Director to influence the competition through bribery—cash offers, made in writing, in exchange for preferential treatment and a guaranteed Top 10 placement," their statement read.

"Every one of these attempts was firmly rejected. Miss Eco International does not, and will never, accept pressure, manipulation, or any unethical on influence on its judging process."

The pageant organization also withdrew the Miss Eco Asia 2026 title from Vietnamese candidate Thi Thu Truc.

"We saw real potential in Thi Thu Truc. Her Continental award had already been decided before Final Night, and we were committed to honoring her hard work," the statement read.

Miss Eco International said it gave the contestant "the benefit of the doubt" and allowed her to decide whether to continue competing.

"She chose to take the stage. The conduct that followed—both backstage and before our audience—was her own, and it did not meet the standard her title demands," they said.

The organization said it initially chose not to disclose the alleged bribery attempts publicly because they believed the contestant was not involved.

However, Miss Eco International said the delegate's actions, along with "baseless and uninformed claims surrounding her organization," prompted the organization to speak out.

"The documentation behind this decision exists, is independently verifiable, and will be made available to all relevant parties," the organization said. "We have nothing to hide, because we have always chosen to walk with integrity."

Top 10 selection issue

Vietnamese fans raised concerns during finals night when Miss Eco International allegedly changed its publicly announced voting mechanics.

"Miss Eco International had publicly announced: 'The contestant with the highest number of votes will automatically enter the Top 10,'" Oanh said.

According to her statement, Thu Truc received the highest number of votes, and organizers allegedly published congratulatory content recognizing the Vietnamese candidate's placement.

"However, during the grand finals, this result was suddenly rejected due to excuses such as 'system errors,' 'technical glitches,' and 'typos,'" she said.

In an official statement on Instagram, Miss Eco International clarified what transpired during the Top 10 selection.

"The campaign was initially communicated as a Top 10 advancement opportunity intended to encourage fan engagement, visibility, and supporter participation throughout the competition journey," the organization wrote.

"During the final stages of the competition, the advancement structure was ultimately integrated into the official judging and overall evaluation system to ensure balance and fairness within the final results,” the statement added.

The organization admitted that the change "created confusion and disappointment among some supporters and national organizations."

"We sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding caused," they said.

Following the incidents, Oanh announced that the Vietnamese organization would terminate all cooperation and commercial franchise agreements with Miss Eco International, return the Miss Eco Asia title, and cease future participation or association with the pageant system.

"We believe that an international beauty pageant must ensure minimum standards of transparency, fairness, and professional organization," she said.

"Speaking out is necessary to protect the legitimate rights of the contestants, the sending organizations, and the audience," she added.

On Instagram, Thu Truc also released a statement of her own, thanking her fans for standing by her throughout the controversies.

During the coronation night held on Saturday night in Egypt, Philippines' Alexie Brooks took her final walk as Miss Eco International 2025 and ended her reign with "the most grateful heart."

Meanwhile, Philippine bet Gabbi Carballo finished in the Top 21 of Miss Eco International 2026. Palmira Ruiz of Mexico won the crown.—MGP, GMA News