In brief
Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, the reigning Miss Grand International, was detained for her role in promoting counterfeit fibre supplements that misled consumers.
In Vietnam, Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, crowned Miss Grand International in 2021, has been arrested for her involvement in promoting fraudulent fibre gummies, leading to widespread public outrage. The beauty queen, well-known on social media, advertised Kera Supergreens Gummies, claiming they contained high levels of dietary fibre equivalent to a plate of vegetables. However, product lab tests showed these claims to be misleading, revealing each gummy contained only 16mg of fibre—well below the marketed 200mg.The notoriety escalated when it was uncovered that the gummies were produced through a collaboration between Nguyen and fellow influencers, Pham Quang Linh and Hang Du Muc. In March, after complaints were raised by concerned consumers, all three influencers received fines but initially avoided prison time when they issued public apologies.Subsequent investigations by authorities unveiled that the gummies were made with sub-standard ingredients lacking adequate fibre content, and the packaging failed to disclose several key details, including excessive levels of sorbitol commonly found in laxatives. Following the incident, sales of the gummies ceased, with over 100,000 boxes sold prior to the halt.In May, Linh, Du Muc, and employees from the manufacturing firm were arrested, facing serious charges of producing misleading goods and defrauding customers. On Monday, it was announced that Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien too was detained for her alleged deceitful practices. Previously celebrated for her achievements, including receiving distinctions from the government, her arrest marks a sharp turn in public sentiment, highlighting concerns over influencer accountability in the health and wellness market.
