"I Beg Your Pardon?" Miss Panama’s Onstage Slip At Miss Grand International Is Both Cringeworthy And Adorable

Beauty pageants are supposed to be all glitz, glamour, and perfectly timed smiles. But sometimes, even the most poised contestants find themselves in hilariously awkward moments.

The Miss Grand International pageant, held in Bangkok, Thailand on October 18, was no exception. With 76 contestants vying for a spot in the top 22, tension was practically electric on stage.

One of those contestants was Isamar Herrera, representing Panama. When her name seemed to be called, she literally covered her face in shock before walking down the stage with a mix of disbelief and joy.

Herrera reached the front and struck a pose, while the crowd and fellow contestants went completely silent. Everyone was waiting for the next announcement when the host, Matthew Deane, spoke up.

“Aaah, I beg your pardon, I announced Miss Grand Paraguay,” he said, gently correcting the mistake. Deane explained that the hall was packed and loud, making it easy for anyone to mishear the names.

Paraguay’s representative, Cecilia Romero, then gracefully stepped forward as Herrera stepped aside. The audience applauded both contestants, turning an awkward blunder into a moment of solidarity.

Fans online were quick to show support for Herrera. One Panamanian wrote, “She represented us really well — she’s human, and nerves got the best of her. Excellent job, Isamar, you did great, no matter what others say.”

Another added, “She did an excellent job, and she was so committed and eager that she said ‘Panama.’ Thank you for representing us with such elegance and class.” Meanwhile, some users tried to explain the mix-up, noting that Paraguay and Panama both start with “Pa.”

Even the Canadian contestant had a moment of hesitation, which only shows how nerve-wracking live pageants can be. For Herrera, the incident wasn’t the end of the world — she handled it with grace and humor afterward.

In an Instagram Live following the event, Herrera clarified what happened. She explained that hearing her country’s name through the chaos of cameras and noise made her react naturally, and that it really was no big deal.

“It was my mistake because I heard Panama,” she said. “The same thing happened to Canada, she heard Canada. A live broadcast is one thing, but being behind the scenes, living that moment, is another.”

Herrera, 31, is a student of Advertising and Marketing and has been described as a dreamer who believes that faith, discipline, and love can achieve every goal. Fans praised her composure, noting that she carried herself beautifully despite the slip.

Meanwhile, the Miss Grand International crown went to Emma Tiglao from the Philippines. The 30-year-old news anchor’s win marked the second year in a row the Southeast Asian country took home the title.

Thailand’s Sarunrat Puagpipat was named runner-up, Spain’s Aitana Jiménez placed third, Ghana’s Faith Porter came in fourth, and Venezuela’s Nariman Battikha finished fifth. The top 22 finalists represented countries from all over the globe.

Pageant slip-ups are nothing new, though, and Herrera’s moment is hardly the most infamous. In 2014, Miss Huila Laura Saavedra was hilariously asked who Nelson Mandela was while hula-hooping on stage. Her answer? Let’s just say it didn’t exactly make history books.

Of course, the biggest pageant blunder in recent memory belongs to Steve Harvey at Miss Universe 2015. Harvey mistakenly crowned Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutiérrez as the winner before realizing he should have given the crown to Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach.

The live TV moment left the audience shocked and Gutiérrez heartbroken. Harvey later explained that a teleprompter error led to the mix-up, and he has said in interviews that he regrets fixing the mistake on stage rather than letting organizers handle it quietly.

Social media reactions to Herrera’s blunder showed empathy and humor in equal measure. “Even the camera person was confused,” one viewer commented, summing up the chaotic but endearing moment perfectly.

Watch the moment unfold here.

Sometimes, even the most poised contestants find themselves in hilariously awkward moments.

Miss Grand International

One of those contestants was Isamar Herrera, representing Panama.

missgrandinternational / isamar_herrera_ / Instagram

When her name seemed to be called, she literally covered her face in shock before walking down the stage with a mix of disbelief and joy.

isamar_herrera_ / Instagram

Herrera reached the front and struck a pose, while the crowd and fellow contestants went completely silent.

missgrandinternational / Instagram

Everyone was waiting for the next announcement when the host, Matthew Deane, spoke up.

Klausfigu / X

“Aaah, I beg your pardon, I announced Miss Grand Paraguay,” he said.

Klausfigu / X

Deane explained that the hall was packed and loud, making it easy for anyone to mishear the names.

Klausfigu / X

Paraguay’s representative, Cecilia Romero, then gracefully stepped forward as Herrera stepped aside.

Klausfigu / X

The audience applauded both contestants, turning an awkward blunder into a moment of solidarity.

ceciromeroo / Instagram

Pageant slip-ups are nothing new, though, and Herrera’s moment is hardly the most infamous.

ceciromeroo / missgrandparaguay / Instagram

Social media reactions to Herrera’s blunder showed empathy and humor in equal measure.

ceciromeroo / missgrandparaguay / Instagram

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At the end of the day, Herrera’s reaction was classy, relatable, and human. In the world of pageantry, sometimes the moments that don’t go perfectly are the ones that people remember most fondly.