Miss World Vietnam Tran Thi Huong Giang placed second in the Miss World Top Model Fast Track competition ahead of December 12’s Miss World final, reported the online beauty pageants magazine Globalbeauties.com.

Globalbeauties.com now ranks Giang fifth in its “Leaderboard” rankings for the upcoming Miss World final.

Giang lost out to Miss World Mexico Perla Beltran in the modeling competition but defeated top competitors from Barbados, France and host nation South Africa, in modeling gowns by local South African designers. Giang was also the first runner-up in the Miss World Top Model contest last week.

With her win, Beltran automatically progresses into the Miss World semi-final.

The Top model title has been a harbinger of the Miss World competition, Miss World 2008 Ksenia Sukhinova and Miss World 2007 Zi Lin Zhang both prior winners of the Top Model title.

Five winners of four other side competitions who are fast-tracked into the Miss World semi-final are Miss Japan (Sport), Miss Canada and Miss Sierra Leone (Talent), and Miss Gibraltar (Beach Beauty).

The last Vietnamese contestants to complete in the Miss World semi-finals were Mai Phuong Thuy in 2006, Nguyen Thi Huyen in 2004, and Pham Mai Phuong in 2002.

Giang, who stands 1.8m and has vital statistics of 86-61-92, is 22 years old and is studying journalism as well as working as a professional model. She completed for the titles of Miss Vietnam in 2004 and 2006 and Miss Asia 2007 in Hong Kong, and she was second runner-up in the competition for Miss Vietnam Global 2009.

“Miss Vietnam is very beautiful. She will be Miss World 2009 because the Vietnamese are very beautiful and very friendly. Good luck, Miss Vietnam,” commented Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza on Globaleauties.com on November 30.

Giang has been successful so far due to her confidence, performance and great smile, said Thuy Nga, director of the Vietnam Elite modeling agency. “Giang is really bright because she knows how to take advantage of her experiences in many other contests.”

At the Miss World finals on December 12, Giang will wear a dress by designer Thuan Viet and an evening gown from Son collection. Her traditional national dress will be inspired by Au Co.

“With these specially designed dresses, I hope to be as bright as the other contestants from around the world,” Giang wrote by email from the South Africa./.