Beauty queen suffers : A beauty pageant took a turn when a contestant mistakenly believed she had been named a finalist.
Miss Panama Isamar Herrera misheard host Matthew Dean calling Miss Paraguay Cecilia Romero a finalist at Miss Grand International in Bangkok on Saturday.
In footage now going viral, Herrera is seen happily clenching her fists as she walks to the front of the stage to join the finalists, while Dean suddenly pauses in the middle of the names.
Herrera had to stand in place for several seconds while the venue fell silent.
A moment later, Dean said, “Excuse me. I’ve announced Miss Grand Paraguay.”
Dean tried to calm the atmosphere, saying, “This hall is very noisy, filled with fans from all over the world.”
As soon as he said this, Herrera, who had come to the front of the stage, simply turned and, like a runway model, returned to her place among the beauty queens waiting to be named. But when all the finalists’ names were called, she wasn’t among them.
Despite the misunderstanding, Herrera didn’t seem bothered.
She later told The Daily Mail, “These things happen. It was a mistake, and it’s a competition. You have to be able to lose and recognize other people’s victories.”
In an Instagram post shared by the Miss Grand International pageant last month, Herrera was described as “an entrepreneur and singer,” as well as “a dreamer and student of advertising and marketing” who firmly believes that every goal can be achieved with faith, discipline, and love. “Guided by resilience and empathy, she deeply values her family, friends, and everyone who crosses her path.”
It also stated that she “sees the crown as more than a symbol of beauty—it’s an opportunity to inspire others and show that there are no limits when you fight wholeheartedly. Her mission is to be an example of overcoming adversity, reminding the world that true success comes from working with love, respect, and shining without dimming the light of others.”
This year, Miss Grand Philippines Emma Tiglao won the crown.