Beauty queen’s ‘royal blunder’ created painfully awkward moment for viewers and contestants

One beauty queen’s ‘royal blunder’ created a painfully awkward moment for viewers and contestants on Saturday.

A whopping 76 contestants were gathered together in Bangkok, Thailand, for Miss Grand International, anxiously awaiting to hear whether they would be one of the lucky 22 finalists. At one point, 31-year-old Isamar Herrera, who was part of the competition as Miss Panama, believes she heard her country called, and begins her shocked and ecstatic walk down to join the other selected countries as everyone looks on in shock and confusion.

Watch:

At the Miss Grand International pageant, the contestant from Panama caused an awkward moment when she thought her country’s name had been called, but it was actually Miss Paraguay who was announced. pic.twitter.com/ESy5esJqZ5

— Klaus (@Klausfigu) October 19, 2025

She struts down the runway, posing at the end before the host breaks the news that he had actually called the country of Grand Paraguay, not Panama.

“Aaah, I beg your pardon, I announced Miss Grand Paraguay,” he said, prompting a long, awkward silence as the correct finalist, Cecilia Romero, made her way down the catwalk.

“There is a lot of noise in this hall, packed full of fans from all over the world,” he noted, perhaps implying that Miss Panama was having a difficult time hearing his announcement.

Ultimately, Herrera and Panama failed to make it into the top 22. Those chosen represented 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.

By the end of the competition, Miss Philippines, Emma Tiglao, was crowned Miss Grand International. This will be the second year in a row that the country has taken the top spot at the global pageant. First runner-up was Thailand’s Sarunrat Puagpipat, second runner-up was Spain’s Aitana Jiménez, third runner-up was Ghana’s Faith Porter and fourth runner up was Venezuela’s Nariman Battikha.

X users reacted to the mishap:

That kinda sucks, but got to listen what is said, not what you want to hear

— Daniel Rose (@Daniel_the_Rose) October 22, 2025

Her stumble was the only authentic moment in that whole charade.

— лера воеводская (@your_mercury) October 22, 2025

One second she’s Miss Panama, next second: “Human bowling ball.”

— Deivison Souza (@Deivisonsouza98) October 22, 2025

She walked ALL THE WAY to center stage before they said anything

— Marco Sav (@MarcoSav93) October 18, 2025

Awwww, it was Miss Grand Paraguay being called but Miss Grand Panama thought it was Pa Na Ma pic.twitter.com/zbz0Er4fm5

— Weiner Henry Caparros (@weinsworld) October 18, 2025

Writer/Columnist

Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to BizPac Review.

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