A tense moment unfolded at the Miss Grand International pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 18, as Panamanian contestant Isamar Herrera briefly believed she had advanced to the final 22. The 31-year-old beauty queen covered her face in surprise and confidently walked to the front of the stage, striking a pose, while the audience and fellow contestants watched in stunned silence.
However, the celebration quickly turned awkward when host Matthew Deane clarified, “Aaah, I beg your pardon, I announced Miss Grand Paraguay,” signaling that Herrera’s country had not actually been called. “There is a lot of noise in this hall, packed full of fans from all over the world.”
Support and Empathy Flow in Online Community
Herrera gracefully stepped aside as Paraguay’s Cecilia Romero moved forward. Attendees tried to ease the discomfort with supportive applause, while viewers online expressed empathy. 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.”
Herrera later addressed the incident on Instagram Live, saying, “It was my mistake, because I heard Panama. 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.”
Philippines’ Emma Tiglao Wins Crown
The event concluded with Emma Tiglao of the Philippines being crowned Miss Grand International for the second consecutive year for her country. Runner-up honors went to Sarunrat Puagpipat of Thailand, with Spain’s Aitana Jiménez finishing third, Ghana’s Faith Porter fourth, and Venezuela’s Nariman Battikha fifth.
Herrera, described in the pageant’s contestant profile as “a dreamer and a student of Advertising and Marketing who firmly believes that with faith, discipline, and love, every goal can be achieved,” maintained her poise despite the brief, high-profile mishap.