Miss Philippines' 2010 Answer: Did It Cost Her The Crown? (VIDEO, PHOTOS, POLL)

Miss Philippines Maria Venus Raj was a crowd favorite at Monday night's Miss Universe pageant. She came in as the fourth runner-up. Check out some pics of Raj from the competition and watch her Q and A segment below. She told the judges she hadn't made any big mistakes in her life, and everyone from news channels to Twitter users are saying that her response might have cost her the crown.

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Do you think Miss Philippines' answer cost her the crown?

YES! Everyone makes mistakes.

NO! She was honest and the best woman won.

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Comments

[seawillow]

09:49 AM on 09/09/2010

Adolescent jibberish delivered with the sincerity of a game show host. Flip the "off" button and leave it off.

[Utotmo]

11:31 PM on 09/07/2010

Her answer is bad but compared to Miss USA's answer during the Miss USA pageant, Miss Philippines is a genius.

[jazgr8]

07:00 PM on 09/07/2010

We don't know if it cost her the crown, but it should have in my view. It was a very weak answer and performance in that section. She didn't say anything wrong, but that doesn't mean she had a good answer.

[MLEmnace]

12:21 AM on 08/30/2010

I thought her answer was stupid, I mean, it's cool that she's content with her life but nobody CARES, they want to hear strength and how she learned. Over here at the Emnace office, we made fun of her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UupS5ONgJs

[merryons]

04:23 PM on 08/29/2010

Again... I like the answer of Australia. Very smart and she even stated her premise on 3 parts, but I guess the judges fail to see that. The one which came from Miss Mexico, was rather, not answering the question directly. Which perhaps made the difference why she won the crown. Complete details: http://bit.ly/cWYKfW

[stape45]

05:06 PM on 09/28/2010

So apparently, it's more about the judges that the contestants OR their answers.

[cloverfarm]

04:55 PM on 08/28/2010

Congratulations to Miss Philippines to make it to the top 5.

Her answer was perfectly valid and enlightening for a group of affluent nations, where youths are pampered and mistakes is seen as bread-and-butter of growing up.

Yes, there are nations where youths are expected to raise their siblings, earn money not only for their education, but their siblings also. In those circumstances, mistakes are not only a youth' , but would bring problems for the entire family. Mistakes are seen as shame and stigma for their whole family. Let's respect this. SIMPLY PUT: MANY YOUTHS CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE MISTAKES IN TOUGH ENVIRONMENTS, SINCE IT WOULD AFFECT THEIR WHOLE FAMILY.

Go Venus Raj!!! She did good.

[lamplight]

04:42 PM on 08/28/2010

Here are some pageant questions worth considering, in a mythical analogy from an international panel of judges. These questions may be perfectly valid from another nations's standpoint, where these things are not taboo to admit, in some cultures:

A) What is the most racist thing you have done, and what have you done to overcome that?
--> If you answer you have never done anything racist, you are seen as a snobby liar in that culture, where by age 22 , you MUST have done something racist.

B) In a Mr. Universe contest: What is the most gender-biased thing you have done, and what have you done to overcome that?
--> If you answer you have never done anything gender-biased, you are seen as a snobby liar in that culture, where by age 22 , you MUST have done something gender-biased.

C) What is the biggest plagiarism you have done in your education or job, and what have you done to overcome that?
--> If you answer you have never done plagiarism, you are seen as a snobby liar in that culture, where by age 22, you MUST have done some plagiarism.

GROW UP PEOPLE AND REMEMBER THAT YOUTHS ALL OVER THE WORLD DIFFERENT SET OF EXPECTATIONS AND VIEWPOINTS. PLEASE RESPECT THAT.

[ReelBusy]

06:38 PM on 09/07/2010

no

[goldengold]

01:18 PM on 08/28/2010

I am not from the Philippines but I have respect for any youth who has the courage to rise out of their impoverished surroundings, and tell a group of judges who have never faced the difficulties she has-- that she did not make major mistakes due to the love of her family. She has given tribute to her family-- and frankly, she is a great role model for youths all over!

Granted, she could have elaborated this better (and she agrees with this). But she stands behind her answer: no mistakes, just challenges , given recent reports.

Go Miss Venus Raj!!
She did Philippines and youths all over WHO TRY HARD FOR THEIR FAMILY-- proud!

[goldengold]

12:45 PM on 08/28/2010

Miss Universe used to be international. The Q/A seem to be from a panel of American Idol judges who walked in, as Miss Universe is now American owned? Change needed:

A) CULTURAL SENSITIVITY:
Yes, the panel of judges need to realize that the contestants will be DIFFERENT backgrounds. Venus Raj is a youth is is supporting her impoverished family. Yes, there are youths of impoverished backgrounds and most of them rarely have the time or luxury to 'make mistakes', as they are too busy simply trying to survive (ie. sadly in some nations, children still start working as early as age 8 and even have child marriages for economic reasons).

While Miss Venus Raj's answer could have been more elaborate, she stands behind her answer. 'BIG mistakes' is UNHEARD of in some cultures by 22 (where they start and are expected to support their family financially). Big mistakes would mean disaster not just to them but their entire family.

B) NEGATIVE CONTEXT:
Asking a PERSONAL question with a negative word like 'big mistake' can be a shocker in a 30 second statement. If it's a personal question, no negative words. Use 'biggest challenges'.

C) ANSWER FAIRNESS:
There was a time when contestants were asked the SAME questions (in some pageant..). The other 4 were put in a bubble, while one would come out. All 5 would answer the SAME QUESTION. That is truly fair. It is impossible to compare answer ratings, if all questions are different !

[lamplight]

08:20 PM on 08/27/2010

fyi: Venus Raj is beauty in action !: wikipedia:
Maria Venus Raj was taken by her mother to Bato, Camarines Sur in Bicol Region, Philippines as an infant and was registered by an aunt as a Philippine-born child to Roman Catholic parents. Raj grew up with her mother, a former tenant farmer and dressmaker who brought Maria Venus Raj up as a child.
Raj lived in a nipa hut made of wood, bamboo and anahaw leaves with no electricity in the middle of a sprawling rice field in the rural Bato town for more than twenty years. She allegedly used rice paddy dikes for her early training where she eventually developed her distinct catwalk.
The youngest among five children, Maria Venus Raj started joining local beauty pageants at four years old. She also joined oratorical contests at San Vicente Pre-School where her English teacher served as her coach. With her victories in major contests, Venus Raj had started to buy land on installment basis for her mother as a means of improving their livelihood.[3]
Raj obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Communications Arts, major in Journalism, at Bicol University in Albay, with Latin honors (Cum Laude). She graduated through the scholarship that she received from Francis Papica Foundation.[3] Back in the Philippines, she works as an Information Assistant for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region V.[4] In addition to this, she also works as a part-time fashion model.

[rabit818]

07:25 PM on 09/01/2010

A college graduate with honors cannot construct a sentence in English? Oi, why not get an interpreter and answer in Tagalog (PI language)?

[kellysans]

01:13 PM on 08/27/2010

Yep, it did cost her crown. And so does for the other contestant. It's a competition, remember? Just because your bet didn't won, doesn't mean the winner is biased, already. Complete details.. http://bit.ly/d8cM2w

[goldengold]

12:23 PM on 08/28/2010

all the questions should have been the same...

[lamplight]

01:54 PM on 08/28/2010

do you think how the answers could have been if all 5 of them came from impoverished backgrounds , English not their first language but refused to use a translator... and had to answer the SAME question as Miss Philippines (who many would agree, had the most personal tough question).

This is not fair. What happened the fair system where the 5 contestants would be asked the SAME question???? the other 4 were put in a sound-proof booth, while one would come out and answer it. that was the RIGHT METHOD.

[tmaxPA]

12:53 PM on 08/27/2010

It's one thing to say you haven't made any "big" mistakes. It is another thing altogether to say it while wearing that much eye shadow.

[jmartin14]

04:18 PM on 08/27/2010

coming from a poor country and a poor family... at the age of 22, most filipinos will never encounter a problem (given the fact that they are poor..which Miss Philippines is froma poor family).
you know y?
simply because, the attention of the parents are to give them love and support and make sure that their kids finishes College no matter how hard the life is...no matter how much struggle in life they came accross.
AND...simply she was right... at her 22 yrs of existence, i beleive that she have not faced any BIG...MAJOR or whatever BIG BIG problem.
unlike in america or any other part of the worl... kids became adult so fast that after that teenage years or even during those teenage years they are already a big disappointment to their parents and the community.

[goldengold]

01:49 PM on 08/28/2010

agreed.. in some cultures, teenage rebellion (now a standard given) is unheard-off.. where their entire problems are just economics survibility...

[wildlotus]

12:02 PM on 08/28/2010

well, beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and colors, and Miss Philippines is a beauty in her own way too.

she is a lot prettier with her hair loose.. but her tall regal style stood out on stage too.

[SuAK]

12:11 PM on 08/27/2010

Of course, her answer cost her crown and rightly so. C’mon seriously couldn’t she think of a mistake that she made in her life? The judges asked her about a big mistake, the word ‘big’ is relative here, and any answer would have worked.

[jmartin14]

04:18 PM on 08/27/2010

coming from a poor country and a poor family... at the age of 22, most filipinos will never encounter a problem (given the fact that they are poor..which Miss Philippines is froma poor family).
you know y?
simply because, the attention of the parents are to give them love and support and make sure that their kids finishes College no matter how hard the life is...no matter how much struggle in life they came accross.
AND...simply she was right... at her 22 yrs of existence, i beleive that she have not faced any BIG...MAJOR or whatever BIG BIG problem.
unlike in america or any other part of the worl... kids became adult so fast that after that teenage years or even during those teenage years they are already a big disappointment to their parents and the community.

[SuAK]

02:59 PM on 08/31/2010

I would agree with you on the love and caring part, but I do think most kids from the third world are really smart and have a greater understanding of life, simply because the social pressures on them are much more than western kids. Hence, I am surprised, that Ms. Philippines couldn't up with a smart answer as she seems smart enough. Most likely she was brought up a Christian and taught not to lie or deceive people and she thought a plain simple would suffice. Sadly that wasnt enough.

[bafeet]

11:50 AM on 08/27/2010

Wait, the Poison singer is an MC and one of the Baldwin minors is a judge? When did the Miss Universe pageant become such a trailer park event? "Beauty" pageants are kind of idiotic anyway. Its subjective nonsense that is so unreal. Maybe she could have honestly answered the question with "The only major mistake I made was to lead my life thinking that winning such ridiculous contests as this actually mean something in the big picture that we call life and that I've wasted my time thinking being "cute" and "pretty" will really win me the respect of others." Isn't it time for these events to go extinct?

[jmartin14]

04:19 PM on 08/27/2010

i like this!

[goldengold]

02:38 PM on 08/28/2010

true.

[cheapNdumb]

11:28 AM on 08/27/2010

and the new Miss universal cheapndumb is.........

[jmartin14]

04:20 PM on 08/27/2010

LOL