Nguyen Thanh Tung, a third-year student majoring in Cultural Studies at Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture, is known for his title of First Runner-up of Student Beauty 2026 and a journey defined by resilience and renewal in the face of past hardships. Stepping into the role of Student Model Ambassador at Global Fashion Week All Stars 2026, the young man carries the aspiration of bringing the image of Vietnamese students closer to the international community through sincerity, courage, and a deep appreciation for cultural values.
Emerging from personal challenges
Nguyen Thanh Tung is currently a third-year student majoring in Cultural Studies at Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture. He has distinguished himself through numerous achievements in both academics and extracurricular activities. Tung actively participates in cultural events and artistic competitions and notably earned the title of First Runner-up of Student Beauty 2026, along with several other honors. It was through these experiences that he was able to overcome his personal struggles and confidently embark on a brighter path.
Thanh Tung’s youth has been shaped by remarkable accomplishments and meaningful contributions. In addition to being named First Runner-up, he also received the titles of Compassion Ambassador and Mr. Ao Dai at the Student Beauty 2026 competition. For him, the pageant represented more than a competition—it was a quiet journey through the darker moments of his life. Rather than allowing adversity to define his future, he chose to listen to his emotions, open himself to new experiences, and embrace the opportunities and gifts that life has offered him.
When fashion speaks for cultural heritage
As a Cultural Studies student, Nguyen Thanh Tung understands the value that culture brings to a nation. For this reason, he views participation in fashion, arts, and media competitions as a means of promoting the beauty of Vietnamese culture to international audiences, while also serving as an opportunity to showcase his own abilities. Each time he appears on stage in a designer’s creation, he not only presents his runway presence but also learns how to tell a story through images, movement, and the attitude he brings as a performer.
For Nguyen Thanh Tung, a model serves as a bridge between creators and the public, as well as between traditional culture and contemporary expression. Every appearance on stage is an opportunity to spread positive values rather than merely seeking temporary attention. It is perhaps this perspective that has brought him closer to the arts and to the cultural values that fashion can embody. To him, fashion reflects aesthetic trends while also functioning as a cultural language—one that carries the identity, history, and spirit of a nation.
New venture at Global Fashion Week All Stars 2026
Global Fashion Week All Stars 2026 will take place from July 30 to August 2, 2026, at the Vietnam Exposition Center (VEC) in Hanoi, bringing together approximately 30 fashion brands, along with designers, models, beauty queens, kings, and distinguished guests from around the world. As the host country, Vietnam will serve as the venue for a series of fashion showcases, networking events, and collaborative activities within the fashion industry. The program will be held on VEC’s main stage, featuring a flexible performance space capable of transforming its configuration each evening to complement the creative vision of every collection.
Joining the program as a Student Model Ambassador, Nguyen Thanh Tung embodies the image of a dynamic Vietnamese student who embraces global integration while remaining deeply connected to his cultural identity. His appointment contributes to strengthening the presence of young Vietnamese student representatives within the event’s international network of partners and guests, while also creating new opportunities for collaboration in the fields of fashion and creativity. The role marks another significant milestone in Nguyen Thanh Tung’s journey following his achievement as First Runner-up of Student Beauty 2026.
Personal image forged from sincerity
Nguyen Thanh Tung has built his public image around the experiences that have shaped him. The challenges he once faced have become a source of motivation, inspiring him to share positive messages with young people who may be struggling with pressure, self-doubt, or the setbacks that often accompany the early stages of adulthood. Perhaps for this reason, what Nguyen Thanh Tung hopes the public will remember is not simply his achievements, but the image of a young man working in the fields of culture and the arts with kindness, dedication, and a desire to inspire positive change within the community.
For Nguyen Thanh Tung, his story is written through the countless times he has risen after adversity, through his belief in the value of empathy, and through his aspiration to bring Vietnamese cultural identity to the world. Looking ahead, what remains most compelling is the way this young ambassador will continue to use culture, art, and sincerity to connect people—both within Vietnam and on the international stage.
Mai Linh
