When Isamar Herrera, Miss Panama, confidently strode toward the stage during the Miss Grand International 2025 Impact Arena finals in Bangkok, she wasn’t preparing for a crown—she was reacting to a misheard name. At 8:45 PM Thailand Standard Time, host Matthew Deane, the Thai-Australian presenter, clearly said, "Miss Grand Paraguay." But Herrera, a 24-year-old entrepreneur and singer from Panama, heard "Panama." And in that split second, the entire room held its breath.
The Moment That Broke the Internet
Herrera, dressed in a shimmering gold sculptural gown by Michael Costello, turned with a radiant smile, fists pumping, as if she’d just won. The crowd erupted—until the silence hit. Deane paused, then gently corrected himself: "Ah, I beg your pardon, I announced Miss Grand Paraguay." The microphone caught his muttered follow-up: "There is a lot of noise in this hall." The camera zoomed in on Herrera’s face—shock, then grace. She bowed slightly, turned, and walked back to her place without a word. Moments later, Cecilia Romero, Miss Paraguay, a 23-year-old law student from Asunción, stepped forward calmly, her poise a quiet contrast to the chaos.The clip, first posted on TikTok by Swedish influencer @Klausfigu, racked up over 5 million views in under three days. Comments ranged from "That’s brutal" to "She handled it like a queen." What made it unforgettable wasn’t the mistake—it was how Herrera owned it.
"It’s No Big Deal"
The next day, Herrera went live on Instagram. "It was my mistake, because I heard Panama," she said, laughing softly. "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. We heard the name Panama and I reacted naturally. When I saw the camera coming closer, I thought it was me. And well, that happened—it’s no big deal."In a follow-up interview with The Daily Mail, she added: "These things happen. It was a mistake, and this is a competition. You have to know how to lose and recognize the triumph of others." Her humility resonated. Even though her name wasn’t called among the Top 22—finalists included the United States, Thailand, Spain, and Japan—her social media following surged by 40%, and trending hashtags like #IsamarHerrera and #PanamaGrace flooded Twitter and Instagram.
Why Did This Happen?
The Miss Grand International Organization, founded in 2013 by Nawat Itsaragrisil and headquartered in Bangkok, confirmed that the Impact Arena’s audio system experienced minor interference during the announcement segment. But linguists say the real culprit was pronunciation.Dr. Anongnad Srisomwong, a linguistics professor at Chulalongkorn University, explained to ETimes: "In Thai-accented English, the "r" in Paraguay is often softened, and the "g" can sound more like a "k." So "Paraguay" becomes something closer to "Pana-kway"—which, in a noisy hall with overlapping applause, can easily be mistaken for "Panama." It’s not a hearing issue. It’s a phonetic collision."
That’s not the first time this has happened. In 2018, a contestant from Nigeria misheard "Nigeria" as "Niger" during a similar event. In 2021, a delegate from the Philippines thought she was called during a "Philippines" announcement—only to realize it was "Poland." The pattern is clear: in international pageants, where English is a second language for most, accents, noise, and speed create perfect storm conditions for confusion.
The Crown Went Elsewhere
The night ended with Emma Tiglao, a 26-year-old medical researcher from Manila, being crowned Miss Grand International 2025. First runner-up was Thailand’s Sarunrat Puagpipat, second runner-up Spain’s Aitana Jiménez, third runner-up Ghana’s Faith Porter, and fourth runner-up Venezuela’s Nariman Battikha. The pageant featured 76 countries—a record—and was billed as the 12th anniversary celebration of the event.Herrera, who previously competed in Miss Universe Panama 2022 and Miss Intercontinental Panama 2023, didn’t win the crown. But she won something else: respect. Hours after the event, she posted on Instagram: "I hope you are extremely proud like me, THANK YOU PANAMA BY THE WAY." The caption, simple and heartfelt, became a meme in its own right.
What’s Next for Pageants?
The incident has sparked internal review within the Miss Grand International Organization. Sources say producers are considering hiring bilingual announcers, using on-screen text for final announcements, or even pre-recording key segments to avoid live miscommunications. "We pride ourselves on authenticity," said executive producer Piyarat Kaljaruek. "But authenticity shouldn’t come at the cost of clarity."Meanwhile, Herrera’s story has become a case study in grace under pressure. She didn’t cry. She didn’t blame the system. She didn’t vanish. She smiled, owned it, and turned a potential humiliation into a moment of global connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Isamar Herrera think she heard "Panama" instead of "Paraguay"?
Linguists point to Thai-accented English pronunciation, where the "r" in "Paraguay" is softened and the "g" sounds like a "k," making it phonetically similar to "Panama"—especially in a noisy arena. With rapid speech and overlapping crowd noise, the mishearing was not unusual. Experts say this has happened before in international pageants, including misheard announcements for Nigeria, Poland, and Canada.
Was the audio system at Impact Arena faulty?
Yes, the pageant’s executive producer, Piyarat Kaljaruek, confirmed minor audio interference occurred during the final announcement segment. However, the issue wasn’t technical failure—it was ambient noise amplifying pronunciation challenges. The system functioned properly, but the combination of live crowd reactions and the host’s accent created a perfect storm for miscommunication.
Did Isamar Herrera get eliminated because of the mistake?
No. Herrera was not among the Top 22 finalists, but that decision was made before the incident occurred. Pageant protocols require finalists to be selected prior to the live announcement segment. Her mistake didn’t influence the judges’ scoring. She was eliminated based on her overall performance, not the on-stage moment.
How did the public react to Herrera’s response?
The public response was overwhelmingly positive. Rather than backlash, social media praised her grace and humility. Hashtags like #PanamaGrace and #IsamarHerrera trended globally. Many compared her reaction to that of past pageant contestants who handled disasters with dignity, noting that her authenticity made her more relatable—and more memorable—than many winners.
What impact did this have on the Miss Grand International Organization?
The organization has initiated internal discussions about improving live announcement clarity, including potential use of on-screen text for finalist names, hiring bilingual announcers, or pre-recording critical segments. While they’ve reaffirmed their commitment to live authenticity, they now acknowledge that language accessibility is part of the global pageant experience.
Did Isamar Herrera win any awards after the pageant?
She didn’t win a formal title, but she became the most talked-about contestant of the night. Her Instagram following jumped from 21,600 to over 120,000 within a week. She was invited to appear on multiple Latin American talk shows and received a sponsorship offer from a Panamanian fashion brand. In many ways, she won the internet—and that’s a different kind of crown.