Bringing the altar onto the beauty pageant stage, the audience reacted strongly.

The design 'Ancestral Incense' was inspired by the custom of ancestor worship in the controversial national cultural costume contest.

Controversial Ancestral Incense Design - Screenshot

Design Ancestral incense is one of 40 costumes performed at the national cultural costume competition within the framework of the contest. Miss Grand Vietnam 2025 on the evening of September 11.

This is a design by author Tran Cong Hau, coached by designer Ivan Tran.

According to information from the organizers, this design was inspired by the custom of ancestor worship of the Vietnamese people. The design is also a deep gratitude to the origin, the previous generation silently follows and is a support for the descendants, showing connection and love.

However, this design received backlash, with many viewers asking, "Since when did the altar become a symbol?" national cultural costumes?

Many other viewers commented: "So shocking, even the elderly can participate in beauty pageants"; "Are you running out of ideas?"; "You've run out of things to do, now you're dragging them to the altar"; "Do you have to 'bring' your ancestors' blessings when you participate in a beauty pageant?";

"Hold 3 incense sticks and pray to the ancestors below for me to become successful." miss this season”; “Offering on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month?”; “First time meeting, I don’t know what to say, please allow me to bow to the audience”…

Close-up of Ancestral Incense Design

Previously designed Altar at the national costume selection contest for Hoang Thuy to compete in Miss Universe 2019 also caused heated controversy on social networks, mostly negative reactions.

This design by author Pham Quang Minh, also took inspiration from the Vietnamese belief in ancestor worship. The audience believes that the altar and incense burner are sacred and solemn objects that cannot be brought to the beauty pageant stage to perform and attract views.

The judges for the national cultural costume competition night included: Miss Ha Kieu Anh (head of the jury), artist Vuong Duy Bien, actress Nhat Kim Anh, Miss Le Hoang Phuong, actor Quoc Truong, Miss Doan Thien An, businesswoman Nguyen Thi Thu Huong and designer Thanh Huong Bui.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/dua-ban-tho-len-san-khau-thi-hoa-hau-khan-gia-phan-ung-manh-3375578.html