Vietnamese Beauty Queen Arrested in Fibre Gummies Fraud Scandal

Vietnamese authorities have arrested Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, a well-known beauty queen and social media influencer, in connection with a major consumer fraud case involving counterfeit fibre supplements.

Nguyen, who won the Miss Grand International title in 2021 and earned recognition from the Vietnamese government, had heavily promoted a product called Kera Supergreens Gummies across her social media platforms. The gummies were marketed as being rich in fibre—claiming each gummy contained fibre equivalent to a plate of vegetables.

However, the public outcry began after independent lab tests revealed a different story. Instead of the promised 200mg of fibre per gummy, tests showed they contained just 16mg. Further investigations uncovered that the gummies were made with low-quality ingredients, lacked clear fibre content labeling, and contained high levels of sorbitol, a laxative ingredient not properly disclosed on the packaging.

Nguyen was not alone in the promotion. She partnered with fellow influencers Pham Quang Linh and Hang Du Muc, who were also involved in the business behind the product. Authorities say the three influencers collaborated in launching the supplement through a joint company venture.

Following the lab findings, all three influencers were initially fined and issued public apologies in March. But the case escalated quickly. In April, Vietnamese officials arrested Pham, Hang Du Muc, company executives, and the gummies’ manufacturer on charges of producing counterfeit goods and defrauding consumers.

On Monday, Nguyen was also taken into custody amid allegations of deceiving customers. It is estimated that over 100,000 boxes of the gummies were sold before the scandal forced a halt to sales.

Nguyen’s rise to fame extended beyond beauty pageants. After her 2021 win in Bangkok, she became a popular figure for brands in Vietnam and appeared on multiple reality TV shows. She even received certificates of merit from the Prime Minister and Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party. Now, her reputation faces serious damage as legal proceedings continue.

Source: BBC – Vietnamese beauty queen arrested for fraud over fibre gummies