Yen Nguyen

How many Vietnamese-French-American dentist fitness models do you know? Well, this one for starters. Meet the worldly, wise and sexy YEN NGUYEN…

Your first MAXIM feature looks great, Yen How do you feel?
ECSTATIC! Thanks so much for the incredible opportunity — I’m extremely honoured because I’ve always looked at the women of MAXIM as some of the most beautiful women in the world.

Cool photo shoots. Tell us a bit about them.
Yes, there are two photo shoots in this feature portfolio, if you will. One is my first shoot with my favourite photographer Rich Cutrone after things started opening up again after COVID-19 in Florida, USA and we wanted to do a fun and sexy lingerie shoot. I also flew out to Southern California for a shoot with Cory C on a beach — it was my first flight across the country after COVID-19.

How have you been coping with all things COVID-19?
I’ve been keeping busy and adjusting to the “new normal”. It’s hard not to be able to travel freely to see my family and friends, get together in groups and celebrate life like we used to.

As our Woman of the World this month, what’s the first thing you will do once all travel restrictions are lifted?
I am going to travel as much as I can because the pandemic has really shown us all that seeing the world is not always an option. I love London because there is so much energy and you can find everything and anything there – amazing people, food, architecture and history.

Have you ever been to Australia?
No, I would love to go to Australia! I love Australian accents and find the people so beautiful. I’d love to visit the beaches and the mountains. There’s also a few famous pole dancing studios I would love to dance at while I’m there.

Is this when you feel your sexiest?
Yes, I feel sexy when I’m dancing because I’m using my body to release my emotions to music.

What is your best asset?
I get a lot of compliments on my face, and also my waist because it is small, but I think my best assets are my intelligence and kindness.

Your heritage is Vietnamese/French, right? How so?
Yes, my grandmother was half French and I was born in the United States. I grew up as a first generation American speaking Vietnamese. What is interesting is that I think in the English language.

What would people be most surprised to know about you?
Even though I’m a fitness and bikini model, I only learned to swim two years ago!

What made you want to become a fitness model?
I started competing in bikini competitions and did a photo shoot, then submitted the photos to ALLMAX Nutrition because they were looking for a spokesmodel, and the rest is history.

What’s the toughest thing about being a fitness model?
I have to stay in shape all year round so it’s hard to stray off track with my diet.

What’s the best advice you can give our readers on how to stay fit?
Do not deprive yourself of foods you enjoy, but practice moderation.

We also hear you’re a dentist. How do you juggling between your different jobs?
I am a dentist because I love taking care of people and helping them achieve their best smile. Dentistry is a career for me, but modelling is a passion of mine because it is an art form.

Would you ever be able to date a man with terrible teeth?
Why not? At least I can fix them!

True! What do you look for in a man?
A sense of humour, kindness and he must love dogs.

What’s one thing men should always know about women?
That we are always right.

What’s the freakiest thing someone has sent you via social media?
A request to buy my dirty underwear.

If you ruled the world for a day what would you do?
I would make sure every person on this earth would have a full day of meals. We often take it for granted that there is a plethora of food, but too many of the world population go to bed hungry every night. ■

STATUS UPDATE

NAME: Yen Nguyen
BORN: November 27
HOMETOWN: Tampa, Florida USA
FIVE-WORD SELF-DESCRIPTION: “Kind, compassionate, nurturing, silly and sensual.”
FAVOURITE FOODS: “Dark chocolate, mint chocolate, ice-cream and sushi.”
HOBBIES: “Dancing, cooking, sports, and reading.”
PHOBIA: “Scary clowns!”
HIDDEN TALENT: “Pole dancing”
GO-TO DRINK: “Tito’s on the rocks with lime.”
HANGOVER CURE: “Pizza.”
LIFE MOTTO: “Stay humble, work hard and be kind.”
INSTAGRAM: @miafitworld