A beauty queen turned fraudster? It’s a shocking fall from grace for Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, the former Miss Grand International winner, who has been sentenced to two years in jail for her role in a diet gummy scam. But here’s where it gets controversial: while many see this as a clear case of deception, others argue it highlights the blurred lines between influencer marketing and outright fraud. Let’s dive into the details.
On November 20, 2025, a Vietnamese court handed down the verdict, finding Tien and two fellow social media influencers, Pham Quang Linh and Hang Du Muc, guilty of misleading consumers. The trio had marketed Kera Supergreens Gummies as a fiber-rich health supplement, claiming each gummy contained the equivalent of a plate of vegetables. And this is the part most people miss: the gummies actually contained a mere 0.935% fiber, alongside over 30% sorbitol—an artificial sweetener with laxative effects—and undisclosed additives. This wasn’t just a harmless exaggeration; it was a deliberate deception that netted them a staggering US$473,000 in profits.
The court was unforgiving, stating that the offense was intentional and warranted strict punishment. Tien, who had once been celebrated in Vietnam after her 2021 pageant win and even received a certificate of merit from the prime minister, now faces a tarnished reputation and time behind bars. Her partnership in the venture—a 30% stake in the company—didn’t shield her from accountability.
Here’s the kicker: over 56,000 customers were duped into buying more than 129,000 packs of these gummies, shelling out over US$650,000. While the influencers profited handsomely, consumers were left with a product far from its advertised claims. This raises a critical question: how much responsibility do influencers bear for the products they endorse? Are they simply promoters, or should they be held to higher standards of transparency?
This case isn’t just about one beauty queen’s downfall; it’s a wake-up call for the entire influencer industry. As consumers, we often trust the faces we see on social media, but this story reminds us to dig deeper. What do you think? Is this an isolated incident, or does it reveal a deeper issue in how products are marketed online? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep the conversation going.