This is the hilarious moment a beauty queen stepped forward thinking she had reached the final of a major pageant, only to be told she had to step aside for a rival.
Isamar Herrera, Panama’s representative for the Miss Grand International crown, walked towards the front of the stage all smiles and pumped her fists in the air to celebrate after apparently hearing her name being called out.
But she had misheard – the woman whose name had been announced was in fact Paraguay’s hopeful Cecilia Romero.
The event’s compère fell silent for several seconds after saying the two words: ‘Congratulations to’ as Isamar, 31, continued her walk towards the other beauties who were already at the front of a catwalk after being selected for the final stages of the competition.
After watching her pose for the cameras with a look of joy on her face, he brought her world crashing down by continuing: ‘Aaah, I beg your pardon, I announced Miss Grand Paraguay.’
As the cameras honed in on Isamar returning to where she had been standing but diplomatically waiting till her back was turned so viewers couldn’t see her face, he added as the right woman stepped forward: ‘There is a lot of noise in this hall, packed full of fans from all over the world.’
The blunder sparked an avalanche of support for Isamar on her Instagram, where she has more than 21,000 followers, although many admitted they couldn’t understand why she had misheard the name called out even over the noise.
One said: ‘I’m from Paraguay and I felt very sorry about what happened.
Isamar Herrera (pictured, with a Panama sash) walked towards the front of the stage all smiles and pumped her fists in the air to celebrate after apparently hearing her name being called out
She had apparently misheard the announcement
The woman whose name had been announced was in fact Paraguay’s hopeful Cecilia Romero (pictured)
‘You were a good candidate, impeccable every time you came out, and you deserved the classification. I’m sure better things will happen in your life.’
Another said: ‘I don’t like to mock other people’s misfortune, but how sad and humiliating that embarrassing moment must have been for you. I send you kisses and a big hug from Jinotega in Nicaragua.’
Another offering her words of consolation another well-wisher said: ‘I think she was obviously nervous and there was a touch of hyperactivity there.
‘Let it be a reason for a good laugh when you remember it in years to come.’
Isamar herself, speaking moments after the gaffe in Bangkok, said: ‘These things happen. It was a mistake and this is a competition,
‘You have to know how to lose and recognise the triumph of others.’
The Miss Grand International 2025 title ended up going to Emma Tiglao from the Philippines.
