Bold moment, ruined in an instant: a Miss Grand International stage blunder that left viewers cringing and the contestants scrambling to save face.
On October 18 in Bangkok, Thailand, Isamar Herrera, Panama’s representative, stood among 76 contestants with the aim of becoming one of the 22 finalists. The 31-year-old appeared confident as she climbed to the front of the stage, pausing to strike a ten-second pose that was meant to be her shining moment.
The moment was abruptly interrupted when host Matthew Deane corrected a glaring mix-up on live camera.
“Aaah, I beg your pardon, I announced Miss Grand Paraguay,” Deane admitted, stretching the awkward silence to feel almost tangible.
“In this hall there’s a lot of noise, packed with fans from all over the world,” he added, attempting to steer the moment back on track.
Herrera stepped back from the spotlight as Cecilia Romero, Paraguay’s official contestant, advanced to the front. Some contestants stared in stunned silence, while others offered supportive applause to salvage the moment for Romero.
Ultimately, Herrera did not advance to the 22 finalists; ten more contestants were announced to complete the lineup.
Viewers felt a pang for both Herrera and Romero, with many noting how similar-sounding country names can contribute to the confusion.
Comments poured in: some argued that language barriers could have played a role, while others offered messages of sympathy and encouragement for Herrera, insisting she was a strong candidate who deserved to advance.
The final 22 finalists came from Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Martinique, Mexico, Paraguay, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela, and Zambia.
Emma Tiglao of the Philippines was crowned Miss Grand International after a multi-week competition. This marks the second consecutive year that a Southeast Asian country has won the pageant.
The runners-up were: first runner-up Sarunrat Puagpipat (Thailand); second runner-up Aitana Jiménez (Spain); third runner-up Faith Porter (Ghana); and fourth runner-up Nariman Battikha (Venezuela).
