Vietnamese Beauty Queen Arrested for Fraud Over Misleading Health Gummies

Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, a prominent Vietnamese beauty queen and social media influencer, has been arrested for consumer fraud following a national scandal involving falsely advertised dietary supplements.

The former Miss Grand International 2021 titleholder, widely recognized across Vietnam and once honored by the government, had heavily promoted Kera Supergreens Gummies online, claiming they were rich in dietary fibre. However, public trust crumbled after laboratory tests exposed that each gummy contained only 16mg of fibre, far short of the 200mg that had been advertised.

Nguyen collaborated on the product with fellow influencers Pham Quang Linh and Hang Du Muc. According to investigators, the three were involved in a joint business venture with a company responsible for producing the gummies. They promoted the supplement as a healthy alternative, claiming a single gummy contained the same amount of fibre as a plate of vegetables.

Concerns escalated when a customer independently sent the product for lab testing. Not only did the results show far lower fibre content, but authorities also found the gummies contained high levels of sorbitol—a laxative ingredient—without any warning on the packaging. Furthermore, the packaging failed to specify fibre content, violating consumer protection standards.

Following a public outcry, Vietnamese authorities launched an official investigation, uncovering the use of sub-standard, low-fibre ingredients in the product's manufacture.

In March, all three influencers were fined and publicly apologized. However, the case deepened in April when Pham Quang Linh, Hang Du Muc, company officials, and representatives from the manufacturing firm were arrested on charges of producing counterfeit goods and defrauding consumers.

On Monday, authorities confirmed the arrest of Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien for allegedly misleading the public and participating in fraudulent marketing practices. Reports indicate over 100,000 boxes of the misleading product were sold before the scandal prompted a halt in distribution.

Nguyen’s downfall marks a dramatic shift in her public image. After winning the Bangkok-based Miss Grand International pageant in 2021, she became a national celebrity, endorsed by major brands and celebrated with certificates of merit from both the Vietnamese prime minister and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union under the ruling Communist Party.

Source: BBC