Popular pageant site Missosology, which has 1.8 million followers on Facebook, posted Monday: “What happened to former Miss Grand International winner, Thuy Tien from Vietnam?”

The post included a photo of Tien during her crowning moment along with two images showing her being escorted on Monday by the police, who are investigating her for allegedly deceiving consumers with fiber supplement Kera supergreens gummies that she owned and promoted.

It quickly gained widespread attention, drawing hundreds of comments within minutes. Many fans expressed disbelief and disappointment, while others speculated on whether she could be stripped off her crown.

“Is this real? I can’t believe it,” wrote one user from Indonesia.

“A sad ending for one of the most beloved Miss Grand International winners,” another said.

“How did she get involved in such a huge scandal?” a user from the U.S asked.

Other beauty platforms and fan pages also covered the arrest, further fueling discussion across the international pageant community.

Social media users pointed out that Miss Grand International President Nawat Itsaragrisil had unfollowed Tien, signaling a sharp departure from his earlier praise. Just in March he had called her “top quality” when she was named a “Friend of the House” by luxury fashion brand Dior.

In Dec. 2024 Tien announced her collaboration with influencers Pham Quang Linh and Nguyen Thi Thai Hang to promote Kera supergreens gummies. On Facebook, she marketed the gummies as a healthy snack, claiming each was “equivalent to a plate of vegetables” and suitable for all ages.

But a controversy erupted after a customer had the product tested at the Quality Assurance and Testing Center 2. The results showed that each 30-gummy box contained only 0.51 grams of fiber, a fraction of what was advertised.

Following public backlash, Tien removed her promotional posts.

An official test conducted by the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Management Authority at the behest of the Ministry of Health confirmed the discrepancies. Although the product’s declared sugar, protein, fat, and energy levels were accurate, it barely had any fiber despite being marketed as a fiber supplement.

The tests also found the gummy contained 35% sorbitol, a sweetener with known laxative effects and other undisclosed additives. Thus, consumers were misled into believing the digestive benefits came from vegetable fiber while in fact they were caused by sorbitol.

Tien, Linh and Hang were subsequently summoned for questioning, and all three admitted to misleading consumers. Linh and Hang were fined VND140 million (US$5,391) for false advertising, while Tien was fined VND25 million for failing to disclose that her promotional posts were sponsored, violating advertising transparency regulations.

Investigators later found that she owns a 30% share in the Kera Supergreens Gummies business.