Being a Promotional Girl a challenging job for beautiful women A car PG (L) stands by a KIA car at an event on November 14, 2014 What is the link between the beauty of a young woman and the consumption rate of a product such as a shaver? A Promotion Girl, or PG, can prove to be the tie. Nowadays, a PG is often hired for many events, from standing in a reception area to welcome guests to riding a bicycle on the street to promote a new product such as a razor, beer, cigarettes, washing powder, car, or electronics. Because of the wide range of work that goes along with the job, a PG should be very smart to interact with distinguished guests, and/or be beautiful to ‘display’ her appearance to attract the initial attention of people before introducing her products. The salary rate for the job varies, depending on the quality of each PG, from VND100,000 (US$4.8) to VND500,000 ($24) a day, or even more. A Vietnamese (L) and a foreign car PG at a recent motor show in Vietnam Elite PGs In Vietnam, PGs for cars at big events such as the Vietnam Motor Show or Saigon Autotech are generally considered elite because of their beauty and knowledge. They are often surrounded by rich men and they have the chance to became known to the public thanks to pictures published by the media. But it is not easy to be hired as a car PG, since it requires a certain height and knowledge of engines and cars. “A car PG must not only stand on high heeled shoes and smile, but can also discuss technical features of different kinds of cars with guests, especially the car she is promoting,” said a car PG named Phuong Thanh. However, a car PG is often given a rehearsal by the manufacturer the day before an event, admitted PG Nguyen Ngoc Hoai Thien. “Most young women and female students wish to have a chance to do this illustrious job, but it is hard, really hard,” she added. “It is exhausting to stand for four or five hours a day with a permanent smile. “As a car PG, you have to stand on high heels from 8:30am till 6:00pm five days a week. “Your body becomes dead tired and your legs hurt at the end of a working day.” A PG must also be cool enough to sustain and ignore the hatred of other jealous PGs, she added. Recently, Vietnamese car PGs have had to compete with foreign PGs, who have been present at more and more car shows in Vietnam. Foreign PGs tend to be taller and cuter. Vietnamese PG Hoai Thien at a motor show in Vietnam PGs for other products Car PGs are generally more professional than PGs for other products, who can be female students and young women who happen to look good. They promote daily products such as washing powder, cigarettes, beer, and electronics. Some work as hair models to promote hair dyes. If an elite PG can work stable hours, other PGs may work on shift and be ready to go to different places in the city to promote products. PGs for beer and cigarettes often face tougher working conditions because they must visit restaurants and be on the street. A beer PG knows how to talk and deal with a drunken client, said a PG named Thu Hoai. Some female students have been warned by their schools after working as PGs for hair dying products because they change their hair color every day, and some colors seem unsuitable for school. Dress is a major issue for PGs. They are more likely to be asked to wear short skirts and thin shirts to attract guests. Recently, police in Hanoi discovered a case in which PGs were organized to work as prostitutes. The case involved an event organizing company named Vinamost, based in Cau Giay District in Hanoi, and its manager, Pham Thi An Nga, 42, who acted as a go-between for her female staff (PGs) and rich men. Two PGs in the case were caught red handed sleeping with clients in a hotel in Hanoi late last year. Tuoi Tre