Miss Vietnam Runner-Up Under Fire for ‘Sugar Baby’ Advice to Women

Thao is a visiting lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh University of Economics and Finance
“A perfect way for young women to choose”

A controversy has arisen over a statement made by a former contestant in the Miss Vietnam pageant, a university lecturer advising women to “date older and wealthy men.”

 

According to Vietnamese media on the 3rd (local time), Le Phuong Thao (29), the runner-up of Miss Sports Vietnam 2022, recently stated in a video on her social media that she supports being a “sugar baby” as long as it does not interfere with the other person’s married life.

A sugar baby refers to a young woman who dates older and wealthy men in exchange for material support such as money, gifts, and trips.

Thao stated, “Dating older men is a good way for young women to choose. They have more financial stability than young people.”

Thao has previously sparked controversy with remarks suggesting she should receive financial support from her boyfriend to save money.

Many local netizens criticized Thao’s remarks as sexual commodification.

Thao explained as the controversy grew, “I support dating based on mutual agreement. I am against extramarital affairs.”

 

She emphasized, “After giving birth, many women often face career interruptions. However, if they marry a man who cannot support the family, they must handle both childbirth and economic support simultaneously.”

Thao is a businesswoman, a visiting lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, and a former contestant in beauty pageants.

Meanwhile, the Korean women’s portal site My Mint surveyed 314 married female members about the type of man they would like to date if they were single again.

As a result, 49.7% of respondents chose “a wealthy man.” The following choices were intelligent men (11.8%), kind men (10.8%), and humorous men (8.6%).