Miss Cosmo 2024 − A Global Beauty Celebration made its mark as Vietnam’s first internationally-standardized pageant, welcoming contestants from every corner of the globe. Following the crowning, Miss Ketut Permata Juliastrid Sari (Tata) and First Runner-up Karnruethai Tassabut (Mook) opened up about their journey, sharing thoughtful insights on Vietnamese culture and their vision for modern beauty standards.
HARPER’S BAZAAR: During your time in Vietnam, what has impressed you the most about the people and culture here?
TATA: What struck me most about Vietnam is its powerful sense of community and deep respect for tradition. People here naturally look out for each other. I admire how Vietnamese people blend modern life with traditional values, especially their devotion to family and ancestors. This harmony between old and new is truly inspiring to me.
MOOK: I love how Vietnamese people have mastered the art of both working hard and enjoying life. They are incredibly dedicated at work and amazing colleagues, but they also know how to have a great time. It really shows their fantastic work-life balance.
HARPER’S BAZAAR: Among the cultural values of Vietnam, which aspect do you feel most connected to or could apply to your personal journey?
TATA: The value I feel most deeply connected to is the resilience of the Vietnamese people. When I first came here for the Miss Cosmo competition, I witnessed how they steadfastly overcame their grief in the aftermath of a typhoon. This demonstrated their extraordinary strength and ability to recover, inspiring me to face any challenge life throws my way.
MOOK: Among cultural values, I would say respect for seniors inspires me greatly. During my time in the beauty industry, I worked with many predecessors −some even younger than me − who showed remarkable maturity and professionalism. This taught me that respect isn’t just about age, but about experience, knowledge, and achievement. Embracing this value has been crucial for my personal growth.
HARPER’S BAZAAR: What do you think about the concept of “diverse beauty” in today’s beauty pageants?
TATA: For me, diverse beauty is more than just a trend. Beauty comes in all forms, sizes and stories. When I think about my journey, I know that my path was not defined by traditional beauty standards. I am more than the way I look. I am more than what just meet what that meets the eye. I am my experiences. I am my struggles, my dreams. Beauty pageants today are finally starting to reflect this more inclusive view, celebrating women who are strong, who are diverse, multi faceted. It’s about time that we redefine beauty beyond a small, a narrow, a shallow definition.
MOOK: I moved beyond traditional Thai beauty stereotypes when I saw a confident brown-skinned woman shine on the beauty pageant stage. Born in Northern Thailand with darker skin, I used to think it was a flaw. But now, as beauty contests open their doors to all ethnicities and appearances, I see the power of diversity. It affirms one thing: you can shine in your own way and spread your message to the world, regardless of who you are or what you look like.
“It’s time we embrace a broader vision of what beauty can be“
– Ketut Permata Juliastrid Sari –
HARPER’S BAZAAR: You both have quite different professional backgrounds − model and bilingual MC. What aspects of your profession helped you feel most confident when entering the Miss Cosmo 2024?
TATA: For me, my modeling background has been instrumental in developing discipline and learning to express myself authentically. Beyond the external skills, I’ve learned to use my voice and body language to tell stories artistically. Through each interaction and listening to others, I’ve grown more confident and comfortable in any situation.
MOOK: As a bilingual MC, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many people and experience diverse new environments. This has helped me adapt easily, explore, and courageously seize new opportunities. I believe that daring to step out there and experience life is the key to success. This is why I feel I’m well-suited for Miss Cosmo 2024 − a completely new journey that I’m ready to conquer.
HARPER’S BAZAAR: What made you feel most pressured about being the first faces to achieve high results at Miss Cosmo 2024?
TATA: The pressure is intense, I feel responsible not only to myself but also to those following me and has helped me on this journey. Being the first to achieve this high result, I know my actions will shape the future of Miss Cosmo. I want to prove that a beauty queen can do more than just wear a crown and sash. She should be a catalyst for positive change. She should be anyone, expressing herself in her own way. We shouldn’t set stereotypes for beauty queens.
MOOK: With great aspirations and inherent potential, we set many ambitious goals. Fortunately, we received positive support from the organization to turn these projects into reality. The biggest challenge is balancing project implementation with other activities while making the most of our limited term. We will continue serving the community even after our term ends − this excites me tremendously.
HARPER’S BAZAAR: When do you think is the most challenging time to maintain balance between public image and your true self?
TATA: I think the most challenging time is when you face external pressures to conform to a certain ideal. There are moments when people down to expect me to be perfect, to always appear flawless. But I’ve learned that being real, even in those moments of pressure, is what truly connects me to others, to the audience.
MOOK: My challenge is managing emotions and understanding fans. Many people come to me thinking I can make their day better. Although I sometimes feel exhausted, I understand that bringing smiles and joy to them is the reward. Therefore, even when tired, I still try to maintain balance and keep a positive energy.
HARPER’S BAZAAR: What about the other person do you admire and want to learn from the most?
TATA: I admire Mook’s confidence and how she balances everything. Whether it’s her public appearances or how she expresses herself. Mook has this calm strength, and she’s incredibly consistent. I feel consistency is one of the hardest things to achieve. She’s mastered how to own her power without ever coming across as arrogant. That’s something I deeply respect and hope to achieve someday.
MOOK: What I admire and have learned most from Tata is how she comfortably embraces herself completely. Tata has understood herself from a very young age, and I respect her for that. I’ve told Tata many times how impressed I am by her confidence. It truly inspires me. She’s not afraid to embrace her past and isn’t hesitant to step into the future. I really love and admire this aspect about her and I’m learning from her. Thank you, Tata.
“You can shine in your own way, regardless of who you are or what you look like”
– Karnruethai Tassabut –
HARPER’S BAZAAR: If you could switch places with each other for a day, what intrigues you most about experiencing the other person’s life?
TATA: I’m really curious about experiencing the behind-the-scenes moments of being a bilingual MC. I’ve always admired how Mook maintains her composure and switches effortlessly between languages. I’d love to feel what it’s like to interact with such diverse audiences and see how she prepares for all her roles. I’m sure it requires a unique set of skills and adaptability that I’d love to understand. It’s just fascinating to me!
MOOK: If I could be Tata for a day, I would literally sing non-stop. Her voice is just incredible. I’d wake up at four in the morning and start singing right away. And I wouldn’t stop! I’m dying to experience what it feels like to sing that beautifully. She’s not a professional singer, but her voice certainly is. So if I could transform into Tata, I definitely wouldn’t keep quiet. I’d just sing my heart out!
HARPER’S BAZAAR: Can you share a pageant stereotype you want to change the most ?
TATA: There are many. One of them is the expectation − that a beauty queen must behave in a certain way, must be poised, must be calm. But what’s most important is being real and true to yourself. I wouldn’t describe myself as a calm person. Since winning Miss Cosmo 2024, I’ve always tried to show my authentic self, how I behave in everyday life. And I hope people can relate to that.
MOOK: You don’t need to be confident to win. You can be calm, sweet, or kind. Each pageant has its own preferences. So I think the stereotype that you have to be strong, that you have to be loud, that you have to stand out, that you must have stage presence −that’s what I want to challenge. I think it’s completely different from one pageant to another. No, sometimes you just need to be a breath of fresh air and shine in your own way to win.
HARPER’S BAZAAR: Thank you both for sharing your thoughts with Harper’s Bazaar readers.
*** Creative team ***
Produced by UniMedia
Photographer: Mr. AT
Fashion Director: Tran Dat
Stylist: Phuong Nam − D2 Styling
Wardrobe: Designer Nguyen Tien Truyen, POEM
Jewelry: Diamond Power USA.
Makeup: Phuc Tran (Tata), Phan Phu Vinh (Mook).
Hair: Dao Nhu Quynh and Tran Minh Hien (Tata), Quoc Duy (Mook)
Location: EMWIN Studio
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
