Hanoi: Vietnamese authorities have arrested Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, the winner of the Miss Grand International 2021 beauty pageant, on charges of consumer fraud related to a counterfeit fibre supplement.
A prominent social media influencer and public figure in Vietnam, Ms Nguyen had heavily promoted Kera Supergreens Gummies alongside fellow influencers Pham Quang Linh and Hang Du Muc. Marketed as fibre-rich health supplements, the gummies were advertised to contain as much fibre as a plate of vegetables.
However, a public backlash followed after an independent lab test—initiated by a concerned consumer—revealed that each gummy contained only 16mg of fibre, significantly less than the claimed 200mg.
Investigations later confirmed that the gummies were made with sub-standard ingredients low in fibre. The packaging failed to disclose fibre content and high sorbitol levels, a common laxative component. The product was part of a business venture involving Ms Nguyen and a company formed by the other two influencers.
Authorities launched a formal probe after these findings, resulting in the arrests of Pham, Hang Du Muc, and company executives in April, followed by Ms Nguyen's arrest, announced on Monday. Over 100,000 boxes of the gummies were sold before the scandal led to the product's suspension.
The three influencers were fined in March and issued public apologies. Ms Nguyen, once celebrated in Vietnam and honoured by the Prime Minister and the ruling Communist Party, had become a prominent media figure, often featured on television and in brand campaigns.
Her arrest marks a significant fall from grace amid growing concerns over consumer safety and influencer accountability in Vietnam.
