Haas Undergrad Competes in Miss World

Victoria Pham, BS 12, competed among a record 120 contestants in the 2011 Miss World pageant Sunday, Nov. 6, in London. The event was broadcast live from Earls Court to more than 100 countries.

Pham, in her second year of undergraduate studies at Haas, won the national title for Vietnam on Aug. 21 in order to represent her country at Miss World. She traveled to London to compete in the pageant, which includes fitness and talent portions, and also had the opportunity to visit Cambridge, Edinburgh Castle, and the London Eye. The winner of the pageant was Ivian Sarcos, Miss Venezuela.

"What surprised me the most was learning how to adapt to a high-stress environment. People are constantly looking at you and judging you," says Pham. "I was not used to being in this kind of environment, but I wanted to make sure I was able to show the judges my true colors. I found myself reminded of the Berkeley-Haas Defining Principle Confidence Without Attitude."

Pham said her favorite part of the experience was meeting different women from around the world and learning about their cultures and backgrounds. But "there was a language barrier," she notes. "I often was the 'translator' for many of the women from Spanish-speaking countries, including Venezuela, the 2011 Miss World Winner. It was a great way for me to brush up on my Spanish!"

On her Miss World profile, Pham says her future ambitions are to graduate from Berkeley-Haas and “find a job that allows me to exercise my creativity and determination in business while still staying committed to my passion for community service and charity work.” Her talents include singing and acting. Her personal motto? “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

Victoria Pham, BS 12
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