H'Hen Niê: "Women need to love themselves and proactively create happiness"

(Dan Tri) - Miss H'Hen Nie shares her journey of overcoming fate, overcoming difficulties to achieve her dreams, and taking control of her life.

Miss H'Hen Nie actively inspires and participates in community activities 6 years after her coronation (Video: Cao Bach).

At the age of 18, Ede girl H'Hen Nie decided to leave her village to study at the Central Ethnic University Preparatory School in Nha Trang. Looking back on her journey, she often wonders what her life would have been like if she had dropped out of school and gotten married at the age of 14?

Certainly, with that choice, H'Hen Nie would not have become Miss Universe Vietnam 2017, and would not have had the chance to enter the top 5 of Miss Universe 2018 and become as well-known as she is now. H'Hen Nie's crown is the clearest proof of her efforts to overcome fate, fight against gender prejudice to achieve her dream.

In a conversation with Dan Tri reporter, the beauty queen born in 1992 expressed her hope to continue to inspire young people, especially women and ethnic minority children, so that they can find the right path for the future, take control of their lives and contribute good things to society.

Coming from a poor family, who inspired H'Hen Nie to pursue the goal of "studying thoroughly", only studying can help her family and herself escape poverty?

- Ever since I was a child, I loved going to school and wanted to go to school. At that time, I simply thought that going to school would give me friends, teachers, and I would learn many interesting and useful things. If I didn't go to school, I would stay home and help my family with the farm work.

Between going to school and working in the fields, I prefer going to school. I still remember when I saw my older brothers and sisters going to high school and university, I admired them so much. I cherished the dream of wanting to be like them and thought about doing an office job in the future to earn money to support my family.

From those simple thoughts, I gradually had bigger goals along with the determination to strive to pursue my studies.

In the journey of nurturing that dream, did H'Hen Nie receive help and sharing from anyone?

- It was my teachers who inspired and motivated me. When I was in school, I heard them share stories about the future, about starting a business and the importance of studying. Seeing my friends around me eager to study, I also felt more motivated.

I consider myself lucky because during that time, there were always words of encouragement to help me feel more confident in my choice.

Her mother asked her to drop out of school and get married when she was only 13-14 years old. The road to school was far and the travel was difficult. How did H'Hen Nie convince her parents to let her continue pursuing her studies?

- My mother didn't force or demand me, but at that time she saw that most of my peers were married, so she was worried that I would be "left over". Therefore, she suggested getting married. But I didn't agree and told my parents that I wanted to continue studying.

Seeing that I was so determined, my parents didn't mention this matter anymore. Every now and then, my mother would say, "Be careful not to be single." Actually, my parents respected my decision, but from a parent's perspective, they were just worried about their child.

In an interview, H'Hen Nie once revealed that when she was in school, she was afraid to speak Kinh and faced many language barriers. How did you overcome it?

- Kinh is my second language. Even now, everyone can see that sometimes I still have problems with vocabulary and grammar when speaking or writing.

When I was young, I studied with Kinh friends so I was shy to communicate, afraid of being teased by my friends. There were also some words that I could not translate into Ede language, afraid of saying it wrong. Actually, that was the common mentality, and my friends did not tease me, on the contrary, they enthusiastically guided and explained to me what this word meant. Thanks to their support, my Kinh language has improved a lot.

Why did H'Hen Nie dream of becoming a bank employee when she grew up?

- When I was young, there was a group of students from the economics, finance and banking school who came to my hometown to do volunteer work. In my childish eyes at that time, seeing them in their university uniforms, I admired and liked them very much.

Once, I followed my father to the bank and saw the pretty ladies sitting in the office. As a girl, I also wished that one day I would be as pretty as them, sitting in the office typing on the computer keyboard.

At that time, the banking and finance industry was a trend, and it was easy to find a job after graduation, so I also dreamed of becoming a bank employee. That was just my thinking, but I didn't know if I was suitable for this job or not.

Overcoming many difficulties, H'Hen Niê became a beauty queen. Besides compliments, you also faced controversies about your appearance when you were first crowned. How did you overcome them and maintain your will to strive?

- Honestly, when I first won the crown, I was sad to hear the controversy about my appearance. But then I was advised by my management company. I understand that life always has two opposing viewpoints.

From then on, I focused on my activities instead of being upset by the criticism. When you keep yourself positive and optimistic, you will see everything around you as beautiful.

Up to now, how has H'Hen Nie helped her parents financially?

- I am lucky to be able to take care of my parents and siblings to some extent, such as rebuilding a house for my parents, building a house for my siblings, buying land for the family... In fact, everyone is still proactive in working, continuing with chores at home such as farming, planting trees... I only support so that the family's life is more comfortable and complete.

Besides, I create conditions for my grandchildren to go to the city to study or pursue the job they want.

As a beauty queen, how does H'Hen Niê contribute her voice to the fight for gender equality and prevention of domestic violence for ethnic minority women?

- Over the years, I have been involved with organizations and projects related to education, women and children. Coincidentally, my activities are all related to gender equality, so I have had the opportunity to visit many places, meet many people and thereby learn more about gender equality and preventing domestic violence.

I myself have experienced similar stories, so I sympathize and want everyone to have access to education. Many teachers told me that after meeting me, their female students also began to determine what their dreams were.

How do these things make you feel?

- I sympathize with everyone. I am happy because these are small things but also the beginning of big actions later.

H'Hen once said that most people in her village want to grasp immediate happiness instead of striving for long-term, for example, working for 120,000 VND/day instead of going to school. As an influential person, what do you do to contribute to raising awareness about education for the people of your hometown?

- I always encourage people to strive for the long term instead of short-term goals, such as investing in a stable job that can develop based on their own abilities.

At home, I often tell my siblings and nieces and nephews that whatever they want to learn or do, just tell them and I will support them, but they have to decide what they want to learn and what job they want to do.

In H'Hen Nie's village, are there many girls who go to the city to study?

- I noticed that in the past, you often dropped out of school early, but now you try to finish grade 12 before going to work. Because of many difficulties, the determination to pursue studying in the city still has obstacles, although it is simpler than before.

I see that you are now ambitious, progressive, and eager to learn in different fields. Many of you are even dabbling in business, which is also a good sign for your lives to improve, and from there the next generation will receive better care in terms of education.

At Miss Universe 2018, H'Hen left a strong impression when spreading the story of fighting child marriage and overcoming her fate to friends around the world. Share a little about this mark?

- At the Miss Universe contest, in the profile section, the Organizing Committee has a question: "What story do you want to tell the world about yourself?"

On the Miss Universe 2018 final stage, I also shared that story. I think that wearing the Vietnamese sash at the international beauty arena is an opportunity for me to raise my voice and spread my message to international friends.

What does H'Hen Nie think about the impact of child marriage on women?

- In my understanding, at adolescence, girls are still too young physically and mentally to be wives and mothers, which leads to unstable psychology, unprepared health, and insufficient knowledge to enter married life. I also know cases of my friends who got married early and had children, had to put aside their dreams and ambitions to take care of their husbands and children.

Currently, local women's organizations and associations have many programs and policies to support, encourage and help ethnic minority women study, work and take care of their health. I see that the gap has been shortened, organizations and associations also have easier access to families, thereby together building a more developed social life.

Through H'Hen Nie's perspective, do ethnic women today have enough confidence to liberate their fate, take control of their lives, and affirm their own abilities? What barriers do they still face?

- I think in any era, women always have ambitions, but for some reason, they cannot actively pursue and realize their dreams.

Today's society has also changed in a more positive and open direction, with support and attention from agencies, departments and organizations. On the other hand, it is also each person's choice.

Some people will accept to put their dreams aside, some will persistently pursue them. That depends on their own perspective, and is very difficult to change, besides the causes coming from bad customs, family, society...

Looking at the young girls in your village today, what do you feel most sorry for them? If you could share with them about love and marriage, what would you say to them?

- Always love yourself and take the initiative to create your own happiness - that's what I want to share with young girls.

When I look at the people around me, in my village, I see that many girls have one thing in common: unfulfilled dreams. In my case, if I had not fulfilled my dream, I would probably be different now.

As a pioneer who has gone through many difficulties, what advice does H'Hen Nie want to share with today's ethnic girls?

- I hope that you will determine the right path, suitable for yourself and have a happy life with your own choice. Nurture your dreams and try to make them come true, it is never too late to start dreaming.

Thanks H'Hen Niê for sharing!

Photo: Character provided Design: Duc Binh

Content: Bich Phuong

Video: Cao Bach

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