Which beauty queens will 'invade' Vietnamese screens in 2026?

Hanoi [Vietnam], March 25: From "The Hermit Crab ," "Meet Me on Eclipse," "The Oyster King," to "Bus: A One-Way Trip ," it's easy to see that a force of beautiful, young, and media-attracting actors is gradually " covering " the screen. Among them, Miss Vietnam Tiểu Vy stands out as she continues to appear in Đinh Tuấn Vũ's film "Ốc Thue Hồn" ( Borrowed Shell ), co-starring with Quốc Trường. This is seen as another step demonstrating Tiểu Vy's ambition to stay in the big screen after her leading role in Trấn Thanh's " Bộ Tứ Bao Thủ" ( The Four Leopards). With a psychological and mysterious film , Tiểu Vy has the opportunity to prove her acting ability when placed at the center of internal conflicts, rather than just being a visual highlight.
On another front, Doan Thien An continues to challenge herself with "Meet Me on the Day of the Eclipse," directed by Le Thien Vien, a melancholic romance film filled with conflicting emotions. Compared to her previous strong and assertive image, Thien An is showing an effort to reinvent herself by choosing roles that demand psychological depth. This is a necessary shift if she wants to break free from the long-standing stereotype of "beauty queens acting in films" in the minds of the audience.
Notably, runner-up Huynh Minh Kien also appeared in BUS: A One-Way Journey - a spiritual film project with a modern feel, relatable to young people, by female director Luk Van. Miss Huynh Nguyen Mai Phuong transformed into Thi Hen in Trum So , directed by Duc Thinh - a project with a comedic, slice-of-life style, requiring flexibility and restraint in acting. Entering a genre that easily sparks controversy regarding its "over-the-top" or "forced" nature shows her ambition to break free from the safe image of a beauty queen.
Many relatively new and inexperienced actresses are being given opportunities in film, reflecting a trend among Vietnamese filmmakers to seek out "fresh faces." However, this also means greater pressure: without a solid acting foundation, each role becomes a rigorous test.
The frequent appearance of beauty queens in many film projects in 2026 is not a coincidence. It's the result of two parallel factors: the market's need for fresh faces, and the ambition of the beauty queens themselves to expand their image. They have clear advantages in terms of appearance, recognition, and media appeal - factors that help films easily attract attention from the promotional stage.
However, an actress's beauty is not a guarantee of film quality: audiences may go to the cinema out of curiosity about a beauty queen's face, but they will only "stay" if the character is convincing enough. The inclusion of beauty queens in films in 2026 brings a fresh perspective to Vietnamese cinema, as these faces offer a different energy and a broader audience reach. But if the roles remain safe and lack investment in acting, these actresses, with their "beauty queen" background, are easily labeled as "pretty faces with no acting talent." Therefore, acting remains something they must learn and hone alongside their passion and love for cinema.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper