Vietnamese Beauty Queen Arrested for Promoting Fake Fiber Supplement

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Vietnamese authorities have arrested social media influencer and former beauty queen Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien on charges of consumer fraud, after she promoted a dietary supplement that was later found to be counterfeit.

Ms. Nguyen, who won the Miss Grand International pageant in 2021 and has since become a prominent figure in Vietnam’s entertainment industry, had heavily endorsed Kera Supergreens Gummies on her social media platforms. The product was advertised as being high in dietary fiber, with claims that each gummy contained as much fiber as a plate of vegetables.

However, public concern erupted after independent testing revealed that each gummy contained only 16mg of fiber — a fraction of the 200mg promised. Authorities launched an investigation, which determined that the gummies were manufactured with substandard, low-fiber ingredients. The product's packaging failed to disclose accurate nutritional information and omitted warnings about high levels of sorbitol, a sugar alcohol commonly used in laxatives.

Ms. Nguyen had promoted the product alongside influencers Pham Quang Linh and Hang Du Muc, who co-founded the company behind the gummies. Investigators confirmed that the product was a joint venture involving all three influencers. In March, the trio were fined and issued public apologies.

In April, authorities arrested Pham, Hang, and several company executives involved in the gummies' production, charging them with producing counterfeit goods and defrauding consumers. Ms. Nguyen’s arrest was announced this week on similar charges of deception and consumer fraud.

Over 100,000 boxes of Kera Supergreens Gummies were reportedly sold before sales were suspended following the scandal.

Before her fall from grace, Ms. Nguyen enjoyed widespread popularity, appeared on numerous reality shows, and received accolades from both the Vietnamese prime minister and the ruling Communist Party.

The case has ignited a nationwide debate about influencer responsibility, product regulation, and the need for stricter oversight in the digital marketing space.