Young contestants vie for VND120 million first prize.
HCM CITY A galaxy of stars descended on the Nguyen Du Competition Hall in HCM City for the launch of a talent contest on Saturday.
The contest is being organised by Man Anh San Khau The Gioi Nghe Sy (Stage&Screen Artist World) magazine and Thien Than (Angel) Entertainment Co. Ltd to discover young people with outstanding cultural, social, and entertainment skills.
It is open to young men and women aged from 16 to 22.
After a first round at the Angel Models stage from September 14 to 30, 100 contestants enter the semi-final to be held from October 8 to 11 at the Hoa Binh Theatre.
The 40 top boys and girls will qualify for the final round that will involve charity activities like visiting orphanages and giving away scholarships to poor students in addition to outdoor activities tentatively planned to be held in Vung Tau to test their ability to play in a team.
This round will last from October 23 to November 6, with the winners to be announced at a ceremony at the Hoa Binh Theatre on November 6.
The winners in the boys and girls categories will receive VND120 million (US$6,700) each. Cash prizes of VND80 million and VND60 million await second- and third-place finishers.
There will also be prizes for being kind, congenial, photogenic, and talented and for having the most beautiful body.
The jury will consist of luminaries from various fields like psychologist Dr Huynh Van Son, photographer Quoc Huy, make-up professional Ha My, 2008 Viet Nam Supermodel Pham Xuan Thu, and the winner of the 2008 Miss Beach contest, Lam Thu Hang.
The Saturday event also marked the debut of the musical show Teen Hoi Tu (Teen Rendezvous), which will be performed once every month until the contest ends in November.
Singer Ngo Phuoc Thinh and Dao Mai Uyen Thao, who finished in the top five at the 2008 Miss Teen World Supermodel, the ambassadors of the teen contest, performed in angel costumes.
Twenty-four other teenaged models showed off fashion collections for the young while other popular singers like Thu Thuy, Dan Truong, Hoang Thien Long, Wanbi Tuan Anh, Yen Trang, Ngo Kien Huy, Dong Nhi, and Phuong Trinh, and dance groups ABC, Big Shouth, MTE, and Buoc Nhay also performed.
Entrance to the show was free. VNS