Ly was born in 1989 in the southern province of Dong Thap. She is now a second-year student of communications at San Francisco’s Saint Mary’s College. She is 1.69m tall and measures 88-64-94.

The teenager is no stranger to high profile beauty contests, having won third prize for festive dress at a competition organised by the International Modelling and Talent Association in New York last August.

She was also among top 15 models who won best bodies of the year and received two honour medals for her performance in swimsuit and make-up rounds at the same event.

Ly receives a lot of support from her family and friends, says her mother Truong Thi My An. “Ly is really busy with photo shoots, advertising and film casting proposals at the moment. But she is still finding time to prepare for the contest.”

Ly intends to play guitar and sing a song for the talent round. She will wear a festive dress by top designer Cong Tri, which will also be entered in the World Designer Award. Designer Tri will give her advice on making-up during the contest. She will also sport an ao dai (traditional dress) created by Sy Hoang for the traditional costume round.

Miss World will be held from November 16 to December 12. As many as 107 contestants have registered to compete at the contest. Ly will be among the latest coming to the site together with contestants from the US, Uruguay and Solvenia.

Ly secured the place after Miss Universe Vietnam Nguyen Thuy Lam refused the proposal from Elite Vietnam to be included in the list of three beauties to be chosen as a contestant for the famous contest. Lam said she wanted to concentrate further on her studies.

The list included Lam, Vo Hoang Yen, the first runner-up at Miss Universe Vietnam and Ly. Organisers picked Ly.