Vietnamese Former Beauty Queen Arrested for Promoting Fraudulent Fiber Gummies

Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, the 2021 Miss Grand International, faces legal consequences after promoting substandard fiber gummies that misled consumers regarding their health benefits.

Vietnamese authorities have taken significant action against Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, a former beauty queen and social media influencer, for her involvement in a consumer fraud case concerning a fiber supplement product. Known for winning the prestigious Miss Grand International pageant in 2021 and enjoying a high public profile, Nguyen was arrested following investigations that unveiled her promotion of counterfeit "Kera Supergreens Gummies"—advertised as being rich in fiber.

The controversy ignited when independent product tests revealed the gummies contained only 16mg of fiber per piece—far less than the 200mg claimed in advertisements. This contradiction led to a public outcry and sparked an investigation by authorities. The probe uncovered that the gummies were produced using inferior ingredients and did not accurately disclose information on their packaging, particularly the actual fiber content and excessive sorbitol levels, commonly used in laxatives.

Prior to Nguyen’s arrest, she and two other influencers, Pham Quang Linh and Hang Du Muc, were fined in March for their roles in the misleading promotion. Following the legalization crackdown, both Pham and Hang were arrested alongside officials from their company and those involved in manufacturing the gummies for charges of producing counterfeit goods and defrauding customers. Authorities revealed that over 100,000 boxes of the gummies had been sold before the scandal erupted, prompting sales to be halted.

Nguyen’s fall from grace comes after flourishing in the public eye, where she became a prominent figure, sponsored by numerous Vietnamese brands and featured on various reality TV shows. Her achievements were once celebrated, earning her multiple accolades from both the government and the ruling Communist Party, highlighting the stark change in her circumstances following this consumer fraud charge. The wider implications of the scandal raise significant concerns regarding influencer accountability and consumer protection in Vietnam.