During the Miss Grand International competition in Bangkok, Thailand, a confusing onstage incident marred the celebration for one contestant, Isamar Herrera, who represented Panama. On October 18, as the event unfolded with 76 contestants vying for a spot among the 22 finalists, Herrera’s moment in the spotlight quickly became an awkward mishap.
As her name was announced, the 31-year-old beauty queen joyfully stepped forward, only to be interrupted by the host, Matthew Deane. In a surprising turn of events, Deane revealed that the honor belonged instead to Cecilia Romero of Paraguay, prompting an uncomfortable silence in the auditorium. “I beg your pardon, I announced Miss Grand Paraguay,” he exclaimed, leaving the audience and contestants in disbelief.
Despite the unforeseen blunder, applause cheerfully rang out for Romero as some contestants attempted to salvage the moment. Herrera made her way off the stage as ten more contestants were called up, ultimately missing the opportunity to be among the finalists.
The incident quickly gained traction on social media, with videos of the moment garnering millions of views. Many viewers expressed sympathy for both Herrera and Romero, while others pointed out the potential language barrier that could have contributed to the confusion. Support flooded in for Herrera as fans encouraged her to shake off the embarrassing mix-up and keep pursuing her dreams.
Despite not advancing, the competition saw remarkable performances from the finalists representing a range of countries, including Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, and the United States. Ultimately, Emma Tiglao from the Philippines was crowned Miss Grand International, marking a significant achievement as it was the second consecutive year a contestant from her country took home the title.
This unexpected moment serves as a reminder that while competitions can be fierce, the support and camaraderie among contestants often take center stage.