The constant overwork and preparation, she says,had caused her to become anorexic requiring admission to the hospital three times over the past few months.

Discussing her battle with the eating disorder she says she would go four or five days without eating any food. 

Now I look back at pictures and it is shocking I was that small.

Last weekend, Huyen My appears at an event held in Hanoi and it is readily apparent she is battling back and getting in good forum for the upcoming pageant.

Preparing for an international competition is not simple, she says, it takes a lot of work by all the members of her team to pick out the right costume, jewellery, and catwalk preparation, among other things.

Fortunately, she gets a lot of support from her mother who is also her manager, says Huyen My.