Hien DangAmid the classical ambience of Raffles Singapore where Chanel reimagined a spirit of carefree travel wrapped in its timeless heritage, the name “Huỳnh Tú Anh” resonated unexpectedly among a line-up of international models. In that defining moment, a Vietnamese woman who first emerged from a reality modelling show stepped onto one of the world’s most coveted stages, marking the first time a model holding Vietnamese nationality had appeared in an official Chanel Cruise show.
Original Vietnamese version available here: Đọc bài viết tiếng Việt
There was no grand gesture, no theatrics. Yet Tú Anh’s presence drew attention precisely because of its quiet confidence — a poised and compelling representation of Việt Nam on one of the most demanding platforms in luxury fashion. From a domestic modelling competition, she took steady, carefully measured steps that eventually brought her to one of Chanel’s emblematic runways, where every model is selected through a meticulous and uncompromising process.
Chanel’s Cruise 2025/26 collection, unveiled earlier at Lake Como, carried the house’s signature sense of wanderlust: shimmering textiles, fluid knitwear and an understated femininity imbued with a cinematic charm. When the collection travelled to Singapore, it embraced a new visual narrative—one shaped by modern Southeast Asia, vibrant city rhythms and a dialogue between classic elegance and contemporary flair. Within this context, Tú Anh’s appearance became both a gentle surprise and a reflection of global luxury brands increasingly spotlighting the new generation of Asian faces.
Her path to Chanel was far from a fortunate leap. Tú Anh began cultivating her modelling career early, appearing on local runways, refining her physique and building her stage presence long before she claimed the title of The Face Vietnam 2023. That victory was not an end but a departure point. She continued to expand her reach through international agencies and appearances at fashion weeks in Milan and Paris, arenas where opportunities are earned only through perseverance across multiple rigorous casting rounds.
In interviews, Tú Anh has described how an international casting can last mere seconds: a model enters the room, walks a short line, turns, and leaves, often without a single comment. Yet those fleeting seconds define whether a model is remembered. Her selection for Chanel, long known for its stringent standards, was the result of long-term discipline: intensive training, physical balance, mental focus, and the ability to embody the house’s distinctive aesthetic with authenticity.
Her stride on the Cruise runway in Singapore was more than a personal triumph; it broadened the perspective of what Vietnamese models can achieve within the global fashion system. Her appearance is viewed as a meaningful milestone for the younger generation, model hopefuls who not only dream but intentionally move towards the world’s fashion capitals. And if Chanel, a master of casting with an unmatched eye for coherence and brand identity, entrusted a Vietnamese model with its runway, it signals that Vietnamese talent is steadily aligning with international standards: disciplined, adaptable and unafraid of stepping into larger arenas.
Tú Anh’s international journey has only just begun. Yet her footprint on the Chanel Cruise 2025/26 stage has already sparked a valuable ripple effect: a renewed belief that Vietnamese models can indeed stand on the world’s most prestigious runways, provided they pursue the path with unwavering seriousness. At a time when Vietnam’s fashion landscape is evolving rapidly, her moment felt like a small stone dropped into still water—creating gentle but deliberate concentric waves that extend Vietnam’s presence onto the global fashion map in the most natural of ways.
For Chanel, Tú Anh may have been one piece in a visually rich tableau. But for Vietnamese fashion, she represents a door now slightly ajar. And behind that door may well stand the next generation, those who carry the ambition to see the words “Vietnam” appear more frequently beneath the spotlights of the world’s most illustrious runways.
Text: MINH NGUYỄN
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