On October 10 in Bangkok, Vietnam’s Emoura Pham placed fourth runner‑up at Miss Grand International 2026. In her final speech she said a strong woman should be a bridge that gives others strength, more opportunities and the chance to rise above their circumstances.

The bridge idea did not appear out of thin air. During a closed‑door interview on October 4, Pham suggested adding a fifth “B” – bridge – to the competition’s existing pillars of beauty, body, brain and business.

Pham grew up in Vietnam and spent ten years living in the United States. She often recalls her mother’s daily trek of more than 10 km to school, sometimes on an empty stomach, as the personal story that sparked the bridge metaphor.

Her family is running a community project to build 100 small bridges across the Mekong Delta. To date 18 bridges are finished, and the 19th and 20th are close to completion.

By linking her own cross‑cultural experience, her mother’s perseverance, and the family’s bridge initiative, Pham used the metaphor to underline the pageant’s theme of ending war and conflict, promoting peace, empowerment and cultural connection.