To raise awareness and highlight the risk of HIV/AIDS in Vietnam, a beauty pageant, “Beauty Plus”, is being held for women suffering from the disease.

15 best contestants were selected for the final night which will be held on Sunday.

With financial and technical support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and in collaboration with the Center for Supporting Community Development Initiative and Vietnam Television’s youth-focused channel VTV6, the Bright Futures Network in Hanoi will host Beauty Plus, a pageant to recognizing and honor the beauty, talents and energy of women living with HIV.

After two preliminary rounds held in October, fifteen finalists will participate in the finale at the Vietnam Youth Theater, to be broadcast live on channel VTV6 this Sunday, November 14, from 8pm. Among the many factors to be considered by the star-studded jury will be the contestants’ HIV/AIDS-related social work. Jury members include fashion designer Xuan Thu, popular TV journalist Ta Bich Loan, artist Le Khanh, and Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy. U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael Michalak, will crown the winner of Beauty Plus at the finale.

Additional support for Beauty Plus has come from the U.S. Agency for International Development, Population Services International, Xuan Thu Fashion, Ao Dai Ngan An, L’Occitane, the Institute of Social Development Studies, Tomorrow Media, the Vietnam Youth Theater and the Vietnam Women’s Union.