Le Thi Ngoc Anh on her graduation day. -- Photo provided to VnExpress
HANOI (VnExpress - Vietnam News): Once a beauty queen, now a data scientist-in-the-making, Vietnamese Le Thi Ngoc Anh's journey is anything but ordinary.
The 25-year-old, crowned Miss Vietnam National University in 2019, has just completed her first year pursuing a master's degree in Information Management at China's Nanjing University, one of the country's top six institutions according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
Her place at the elite university comes with a full scholarship from the Chinese government, a prestigious award she earned through grit, reinvention, and a year of disciplined preparation.
Ngoc Anh earned a degree in English Language from Hanoi's University of Languages and International Studies, before entering the healthcare marketing field following her pageant win. The role sparked an unexpected passion for consumer behavior, business strategy, and data-driven decision-making.
"I finally understood the core principles of marketing and sales," she said. "Not just following orders or gut instinct; real strategy requires long-term vision."
But the realization also exposed a weakness: data analysis. Determined to close that gap, she decided to pursue a second master's degree, this time in applied data science. Her first attempt to secure a scholarship in China fell flat. She missed the national deadline and was rejected by a city-level fund in Shanghai.
"I was overconfident," she admitted. "I didn't research the process properly. My study plan wasn't deep or convincing enough."
Rather than give up, she regrouped. She enrolled in a joint master's program in marketing, sales, and services offered by the French-Vietnamese Center for Management (CFVG) and IAE Paris Sorbonne Business School, becoming the youngest student accepted.
After graduating, she returned to the scholarship process with renewed focus and sharper strategy.
She rewrote her study plan to align closely with Nanjing University's curriculum, proposed a specific thesis topic, referenced a professor's research that matched her interests, and clearly articulated how the program fit into her long-term career goals.
She also retook the IELTS, scoring 7.5, refined her motivation letter, secured strong recommendations and included certifications in soft skills.
The hard work paid off. She passed both the document review and interview stages, impressing evaluators with her clarity, confidence and critical thinking.
"They wanted to check if I really understood my own plan," she said. "Because I'd prepared thoroughly, I could speak with confidence."
Anh's former lecturer, Nguyen Hong Yen, praised her determination and discipline: "What I admire most is her willingness to confront her weaknesses head-on. She's serious, professional, and always well-prepared."
Now back in Vietnam for the summer, Anh plans to share her experiences online, aiming to inspire other young people, especially women, to pursue non-traditional paths and take ownership of their growth.
"A strong application shows more than ambition," she said. "It shows commitment, not just to studying, but to the impact you want to make afterward." - VnExpress - Vietnam News
