Vietnamese-Russian Natalia Tran (centre) was crowned regional queen of the 2007 World Beauty Contest for Vietnamese living in the Commonwealth of Independent States, the nations of the former Soviet Union.

Tran Natalia, a Russian of Vietnamese origin, was crowned on August 10 the regional queen of the 2007 World Beauty Contest for Vietnamese living in the former Soviet Union countries.

Tran Natalia, 20, is a student of the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MGU). She is 1.67 m high, weighed 52 kg and measures 79-63-88.

The first runner-up was Hoang Minh Thuy, 23, a Vietnamese student in Moscow, while the second runner-up spot went to Nguyen Thi Van Anh, 22, a Vietnamese student in Odessa.

The pageant drew 26 overseas Vietnamese beauties from the Russia Federation, and Ukraine. They vied for the crown and the opportunity to advance to the final stages to be held later this year in Vietnam.

The event was part of  the regional competition for the 2007 World Beauty Contest for Vietnamese that is jointly organised by the Tien Phong (Vanguard) and Thanh Nien (Young People) newspapers, Vietnam Television (VTV) and the Vinpearl joint stock company.

The three successful contestants will come back to Vietnam to take part in the finals that is scheduled to take place at the Vinpearl resort in central Khanh Hoa province. (VNA)