August 24, 2010 12:09 PM

Miss Philippines Venus Raj Stumbled on Question

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Television

Miss Philippines Venus Raj, right, answers a question with hosts Bret Michaels, left, and Natalie Morales during the Miss Universe pageant, Monday, Aug. 23, 2010, in Las Vegas.(AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

NEW YORK (CBS) Miss Philippines' Venus Raj, one of the favorites going into Monday night's Miss Universe pageant, may have stumbled badly when she failed to answer the question.

PICTURES: Miss Universe 2010
PICTURES: Miss Philippines 2010

One of the five finalists, she was quizzed by judge Billy Baldwin, who asked her : What was the one big mistake that you did in your life? And what did you do to make it right?

Her answer was pretty much a non-answer: "In my 22 years of existence there is nothing major major problem I've done because I'm confident in myself and my family. Thank you for being here.... ...Thank you , Thank you very much.."

Miss Mexico Jimene Navarrete was crowned Miss Universe 2010. First runner-up was Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps, while second runner-up was Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell.










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by cougar_anne August 27, 2010 1:07 AM EDT
MR. TRUMP AND THE PANEL OF JUDGES FAILED TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE. THEY FAILED TO DO THEIR JOB AND IN FAILING TO DO THEIR JOB, THEY MISSED THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR A GREAT MESSENGER TO THE WORLD, WHO IS CONVINCINGLY BELIEVABLE TO THE WORLD, BECAUSE SHE IS A LIVING AND BREATHING PROOF OF A POOR GIRL BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK WHO OVERCOMES HARDSHIPS, OBSTACLES, AND CHALLENGES IN LIFE. JUST LOOK AT HER LIFE ? AND HOW FAR SHE GOES.
IF THE MISS UNIVERSE ORGANIZATION WANTS TO BE RELEVANT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, THEY SHOULD SEND THE RIGHT MESSENGER TO THE WORLD, WHO WOULD INSPIRE THE WORLD BY EXAMPLE, AND WHO CAN WALK THE TALK. A PRETTY FACE WON?T CUT IT ANYMORE.
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by cougar_anne August 27, 2010 1:06 AM EDT
MISS PHILIPPINES ? VENUS RAJ GAVE AN HONEST ANSWER AND IT COSTS HER THE CROWN
Let me enlighten you as to why?
Venus Raj lives a simple and poor life. She lives in a province, sort of your rural America or the boonies. The house she lives in is a simple thatched-roof hut made of bamboo and wood, located in the middle of the rice paddies. Her immediate support are her family, friends, and relatives. She was born illegitimate. In the Philippine society, it is still a stigma. She strives to do her best to study hard and succeed in life. She graduated *** Laude in Communication Arts and managed to find a job as Information Assistant in a governmental agency in her province. While doing that, she helps her mother, a farmer, buys land on installment basis. Her goal is to help her mother and family improve the quality of their lives and lift from the life of poverty.
Going back to the question posed by Mr. Baldwin, ?what is the one big mistake that you did in your life, and what did you do to make it right?? When Venus answered, ?In my 22 years of existence, there is nothing major ? major problem that I have done in my life. Because I?m very confident about my family and the love they are giving me. So thank you so much??
IF YOU ANALYZE HER ANSWER, SHE IS TELLING THE AUDIENCE THE TRUTH! WHEN DOES TRUTH BECOMES A LIABILITY?
In her 22 years of life, she did not commit a ONE BIG MISTAKE WORTH UNDOING OR REGRETTING! SHE THANKS HER FAMILY BECAUSE THEY ARE HER GUIDE AND SUPPORT.
Let?s see?where could she make a big mistake?
DID SHE SLEEP AROUND AND CATCH HIV/STD DISEASES? ? No, she did not. Remember, she lives in a rural area in a conservative Catholic society, acting whorish is a big NO NO!
DID SHE GET PREGNANT AND HAVE AN ABORTION? ? NO, she did not. She is one wholesome girl. Her family watched, protected, and nurtured her. She can?t escape the watchful eyes of her 4 brothers. Suitors will have a hard time to be near her. If there is going to be one, he will be talking to the whole family instead of talking privately with her. That?s the way life in rural Philippines. Everybody knows everybody, and everybody knows what everybody is doing.
DID SHE SMOKE OR DID DRUGS? ? NO, she did not. She came from a poor family. She has no means of buying it. These bad habits are only enjoyed by the wretched people, who are typically shunned by Philippine conservative society.
DID SHE FAIL IN SCHOOL? ? No, she did not. She excelled in school. Graduated *** Laude.
DID SHE COVET A MARRIED MAN? ? No, she did not. She doesn?t have a boyfriend at the present time.
IS SHE A BAD DAUGHTER? ? No, she is not. In fact, she helps her mother and family improve their lives.
OVERALL, VENUS IS A WHOLESOME, GOOD GIRL, WHO GREW UP IN A RURAL CONSERVATIVE SOCIETY, PROTECTED, NURTURED, AND WATCHED BY HER LOVE ONES AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE BIG MISTAKES IN LIFE. SHE LEAD A CAREFUL AND NORMAL LIFE THAT IS TOTALLY OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU EXPECT OF A LIFE OF A YOUNG LADY IN THE MODERN WESTERN SOCIETY.
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE WAS JUDGED BY A PANEL OF MODERN SOCIETY JUDGES AND AUDIENCES WHO CAN?T BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE HEARING. TRUTH IS INDEED STRANGER THAT FICTION. BUT JUDGES, BY VIRTUE OF BEING A JUDGE, SHOULD ALSO LOOK AT FACTS AND TRUTHS, NOT SOME GENERALIZED OPINION THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO THE POLITICALLY CORRECT. VENUS ANSWER WAS FACTUAL AND BRAVE, AND SHE SHOULDN?T BE LAMBASTED FOR TELLING THE TRUTH, AND IT SHOULDN?T COST HER THE CROWN.
VENUS COMING FROM A POOR EXISTENCE AND MAKING IT INTO THE WORLD SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR PEOPLE LIVING AND BORN INTO POVERTY, WHICH APTLY APPLIES TO THE 70% OF THE WORLD POPULATION, AND FOR THOSE BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK. SHE CAN BE A GREAT MESSENGER TO THE WORLD THAT:
1. THERE IS NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF BEING BORN OF OUT WEDLOCK. IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. LIFE OFFERS REDEMPTION AND MANY POSSIBILITIES.
2. BEING POOR IS NOT A HINDRANCE TO SUCCEED IN LIFE.
3. STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND OF FINISHING COLLEGE.
4. HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF MORAL CHARACTER AND A GIRL?S WHOLESOME IMAGE
5. FAITH OF A CREATOR WITH UNLIMITED GIFTS TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE ~NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. HE CAN USE A MESSENGER FROM THE LOWLY AND POOR AND EXALT HER TO NEW HEIGHTS. SHE CAN BE A LIVING TESTAMENT OF GOD?S GRACE AND POWER THAT HE CAN DO ANYTHING AND CAN CHANGE LIVES.
6. GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG GIRLS ~BE VIRTUOUS~BE HONEST ~HONOR THE PARENTS~EXCEL IN SCHOOL~HELPS FAMILY, ETC.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND A RARE AND SPECIAL GIRL LIKE VENUS RAJ?
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by rmw15 August 26, 2010 11:13 AM EDT
First of all, except for Steven Baldwin the other brothers have the combined IQ of a ping pong paddle. The question was as edgy as a baseball bat and I believe the young lady's response was concise and appropriate. Mr. Baldwin should stick to acting where all his words are written for him and if he makes a mistake they can SHOOT him again.
Reply to this comment
by rmw15 August 26, 2010 11:08 AM EDT
First of all, except for Steven Baldwin the other brothers have the combined IQ of a ping pong paddle. The question was as edgy as a baseball bat and I believe the young lady's response was concise and appropriate. Mr. Baldwin should stick to acting where all his words are written for him and if he makes a mistake they can SHOOT him again.
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by gerryrigger August 26, 2010 11:07 AM EDT
This was a question with no right or wrong answer, just a matter of how articulately it is answered. She understood it perfectly, but although her diction was admirable for someone who spoke English as a second language, her sentence structure and grammar skills, and also possibly her vocabulary, hindered her from expressing her thoughts articulately. As she fumbled with her words and tried to make up by expressing gratefulness at the end, it came through like she was stonewalling and skirting the question. To her credit, I think she was asked the toughest question of the group and did her best to answer it in English although in hindsight, an interpreter standing by might have served her well.

Also is it just me or did the question cards appear stacked up instead of jumbled up in the jar, which made the contestants pick the top card in the order they were called. What's up with that?
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by formrusmcsgt August 26, 2010 7:17 AM EDT
Considering that only about 10% of beauty pageant contestants have any real talent or can answer a question coherently, these competitions should be bikini, gown, and done.

30 minute show.

It's ALL about looks and to pretend there's any "substance" to it other than that is absurd.
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by armyoftwelve August 25, 2010 11:47 PM EDT
Miss Mexico was prettier!
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by Surfergurlrules August 25, 2010 11:47 PM EDT
I, for one, am stunned. I didn't know the Miss Universe contestants were allowed to speak.
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by incog-nito August 25, 2010 5:39 PM EDT
I don't see anything wrong with the answer, except that it appears that her English is not quite there yet. It is possible she never had a mistake in her life so far, that she considers major enough to matter.
Reply to this comment
by cool_cat7 August 25, 2010 12:08 PM EDT
William Baldwin's question is the dumbest question I've ever heard, Geeez!
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