The past several hours, Bicolana Maria Venus Raj, the 4th Runner-Up to the 2010 Miss Universe beauty pageant has invaded the Internet and social networking sites making her more popular than the crowned winner, Miss Universe 2010 Jimena Navarrete of Mexico. The reason: Her “major, major” mistake during the Question and Answer portion.
When celebrity judge William Baldwin asked the question, “What is one big mistake that you committed in your life and what did you do to make it right?”, Venus Raj replied, “… In my 22 years of existence, I can say, there is nothing major, major… I mean problem that I have done in my life because I am very confident with my family with the love that they are giving to me so thank you so much that I am here…” (See ABC News video report here)
It’s okay, though. Even noted personalities like President George Bush had a hard time answering the same question. (See video here.) But because of her “major, major” reply which was considered a “poor answer”, she lost the most coveted crown by a few breaths. According to experts, the correct answer was simply to be honest. As Luoise Kusmark, the Director of Resume Writing Academy said, “No one wants to admit they made mistake… you need to be honest but you don’t need to bare yourself…”
Anyway, it’s major major lesson not only for Venus but also for everyone. Let us just enjoy the “major major pride” that Venus Raj, dubbed as Ms. Perfect in some sites, brought the Philippines and especially the Bicolanos.
www.biklish.com 
Having endured public controversy on account of her late-registered, erratic Birth Certificate and then overcoming it to recover her beauty crown from BPCI in time, MVRaj could have answered WBaldwin’s easy question better thus:
“I may have committed a big mistake in omitting the inelegance of my complicated origins as I competed for the Binibining Pilipinas crown. I made right that mistake by bravely declaring some intimate sad details about my humble international beginnings. Happily, doing the right thing when it became due worked things out wonderfully and so, thank you so much to my family for all the love, for here I am tonight with self-confidence and audacity of hope to try to win as Miss Universe 2010!”
Exotic and regal Miss Philippines was No.3 in swimsuit and No. 5 in gown (same averaged rank with Miss Australia) — would she have made a different result had she touched on her publicized imperfection? Still, making it to the Top 5 is in itself a universal honor, so… CONGRATULATIONS, MISS RAJ!
Very well said, Miss Philippines… err, AkoAyPilipino. Actually, yan ang ini-expect na sagot niya. But, the major, major mistake has been committed so, to quote the ABC News Reporter, “No answer, no crown”.
They should have done the usual practice of putting the contestants in a sound-proof booth and giving everyone the same final question!
I agree with Dennison. But I think another problem is our Bb. Pilipinas organizers build only the confidence of our candidates … not the whole character especially wit.