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| Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy. |
"I used to spend hundreds of million dong (VND1 million equals around $42) buying a bag that fits nothing other than a lipstick without thinking twice," Thuy told NgoiSao.
"But looking back at it now, I think if only I had spent that money on real estate, I would have become much richer."
The beauty queen said she has started switching to buying other things now. For investing purposes, she spends money on stocks or land. For collecting purposes, she buys artisans kitchenware, which is both cheaper and more beautiful.
Her shopping cart is not the only aspect of her life that has changed.
"I used to don revealing outfits whenever I appeared in front of the public’s eyes," she said about her fashion style. "But the older I get, the more hesitant I become about showing off my body."
Thuy considers herself someone who does not care too much about her appearance, preferring to invest more in her professional knowledge and skills.
"If people think what I say is convincing, they will work with me," she said, explaining why she was prioritizing her inner values. "Otherwise they will not."
Being active as a businesswoman and investor rather than a celebrity in the entertainment industry, despite having won a beauty queen title, Thuy revealed that she might trade luxury items in the future, both to free her house from her collection and vary her investment profile.
However, it willbe easier said than done, as she says she sees her collection of designer items as her "children," and often worries about their new owners treating them badly.
In the meantime, Thuy said she is busy reading and researching her current work, which prevents her from spending a lot of time caring about fashion trends. And because of this, she often choses elegant and formal outfits in neutral-toned colors now.
"I will probably go back to dressing up nicely around the age of 40 or 50," she joked.
Thuy started her career in the entertainment industry as a model before her attendance in the 2006 Miss Vietnam contest.
She maintained her modeling career and tried acting after her coronation, but started to appear less in roles and do more as a social activist and financial investor in recent years.
