Vietnamese Beauty Queen Arrested for Promoting Counterfeit Fiber Supplement

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: Tessa Wong

Vietnamese authorities have arrested Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, a beauty queen and social media influencer, for consumer fraud related to her promotion of a counterfeit fiber supplement. The arrest follows a public backlash after tests revealed that the product she heavily marketed, Kera Supergreens Gummies, did not contain the fiber content it claimed.

Nguyen, a former winner of the Miss Grand International beauty competition, had promoted the gummies across her social media platforms, claiming they were rich in fiber and equivalent to a plate of vegetables. Alongside fellow influencers Pham Quang Linh and Hang Du Muc, she marketed the product as a health supplement.

However, an investigation was launched after a member of the public sent the gummies for laboratory testing, which found that each gummy contained only 16mg of fiber, significantly lower than the advertised 200mg. Further inquiries revealed that sub-standard ingredients low in fiber were used in the gummies' production. Additionally, the product's packaging failed to disclose the actual fiber content and did not mention the high level of sorbitol, a substance commonly found in laxatives.

In March, the three influencers were fined and issued public apologies. However, the situation escalated when authorities arrested Pham and Hang Du Muc, along with officials from their company and the gummies' manufacturer, charging them with producing counterfeit goods and defrauding customers.

On Monday, authorities announced the arrest of Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien for allegedly deceiving consumers. Reports indicate that over 100,000 boxes of the gummies were sold before sales were halted due to the scandal.

Since winning the beauty pageant in 2021, Nguyen has become a prominent figure in Vietnam, collaborating with numerous brands and appearing on various reality TV shows. She has also received certificates of merit from the Vietnamese prime minister and the ruling Communist Party for her contributions to the country.

The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding consumer protection and the regulation of health products in Vietnam, particularly in the influencer-driven market.