The youngest singer was eliminated from 'Em Xinh Say Hi'.

Ánh Sáng AZA — the youngest Gen Z contestant on the show — was eliminated along with Dao Tu A1, Han Sara, and Muội due to receiving low scores.

In episode eight, which aired on the evening of July 19, contestants from three alliances competed through musical performances and dance challenges before the judges. As a result, teams led by My My and Miu Le advanced with all members intact. However, Tien Tien’s team faced elimination, and Ánh Sáng AZA was sent home due to having the lowest individual score, following the show’s rules.

Ánh Sáng AZA’s elimination after Live Stage 3.

When host Tran Thanh announced that Ánh Sáng AZA would be leaving the competition, Phuong My Chi appeared shocked, while Tien Tien broke down in tears. On stage, the young singer shared that she used to be introverted, but gradually opened up through each round of the show. Ánh Sáng AZA said the experience helped her grow and learn many new things, giving her more confidence for the road ahead in her music career.

She stood out as a fresh and vibrant presence from the very first round. Her real name is Nguyen Le Ngoc Ánh Sáng, and she is 19 years old. At the age of 12, she joined SGO48 — the Vietnamese branch of the Japanese idol model. After the group disbanded in 2021, she shifted her focus to studying and preparing for a solo career. In 2024, she released her debut EP titled AZA, collaborating with songwriter Kai Dinh and adopting the EP’s title as her new stage name. During Em Xinh Say Hi, her performance of Run (composed by Tong Dai) made a strong impression and topped YouTube’s trending music chart.

From left to right: Muội, Ánh Sáng, Han Sara, Đào Tử A1J during the elimination round.

From Alliances 1 and 3, the eliminated contestants included Han Sara, Đào Tử A1J, and Muội. During the farewell moment on stage, Muội was moved to tears. The singer shared that her biggest dream is to buy a house for her parents. She recalled her journey of pursuing music since the age of 12, explaining that although her family struggled financially, her parents still sought out the best teachers and scraped together small earnings from their chicken rice cart to pay her tuition fees. Host Trấn Thành expressed his empathy, sharing that he once held onto a fellow artist’s hand, asking to be taken along for comedy gigs when he was still unknown. He encouraged Muội to stay focused on her bigger goals, reminding her that success will one day allow her to repay her parents’ sacrifices.

Han Sara said she had no regrets, having devoted all her time and energy to her performance. She felt she had grown through the show and gained many new friends. Meanwhile, Đào Tử A1J expressed pride in being a part of the program. With each challenge, she saw her own improvement—especially in clearer pronunciation when singing in Vietnamese.

The remaining 20 contestants will form new groups and continue competing in the upcoming rounds. Previously, the first six eliminated contestants were Ly Ly, Hoàng Duyên, Ngô Lan Hương, Yeolan, Chi Xê, and Danmy.

Em Xinh Say Hi aims to discover the next generation of Vietnamese female idols. The show premiered in late May and consists of 14 episodes, with the finale expected in August. It is produced by the same team behind the successful Anh Trai Say Hi reality show that aired in mid-2024.

The 30 contestants are divided into alliances and compete in group performances, with eliminations taking place round by round. Music director JustaTee (also known as Jessica Thanh Tú) leads a creative team of over 20 producers and songwriters responsible for crafting new original songs for the contestants.

Tan Cao

Photos and videos: Provided by the organizing committee