Venus Raj a ‘major, major’ disappointment at the Miss Universe?
Hooray for the Philippines! Miss Philippines Maria Venus Raj, a 22-year-old Bicolana, was named fourth runner up at the Miss Universe 2010 pageant. It’s really refreshing to see our candidate land among the top five in the pageant, and many Filipinos can’t just help being all smiles about it especially after the horrific incident that happened last Monday.
However, there are also some who are not as happy with Raj’s performance, citing the reason of how she answered the final question given by Hollywood actor William Baldwin: "What is one big mistake that you made in your life, and what did you do to make it right?"
Smiling and not seemingly stunned by the question, Raj answered, "You know what, Sir, in my 22 years of existence, I can say that there's nothing major, major problem that I've done in my life because I'm very confident with my family, with the love that they are giving to me. So thank you so much that I'm here. Thank you, thank you so much!" she said.
This drew negative reactions in the Internet.
Some netizens tweeted “a major major mistake! LOL. haay naku..” and “Ohmygosh venus raj, what were you thinking?”
There is also a short article on ABC News’ website saying that it may have been the biggest mistake in Raj’s life to say at the pageant that she’s has never made a major mistake.
In an interview aired on TV Patrol Tuesday night, Raj admitted she got nervous.
Although not everybody was pleased, support and congratulatory messages for the beauty queen are still overwhelming.
Starting with another beauty queen, Miss Universe 1999 first runner up Miriam Quiambao tweeted, “Congrats Venus! We're still proud of u!”
Even Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran has only good words for Raj’s performance last Tuesday.
“Being number 5 out of 80 is really an achievement in itself. It is a time for celebration and we need it.”
Indeed, even though the crown has remained elusive to our country, Raj is still considered a winner, in a “major, major” way.
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Comments
To Bruce_Auh
I think you missed my point. Preference has nothing to do with comfort level. Venus preferred to speak English in the interview, however, she's not comfortable in the medium. She may think otherwise but it's fairly obvious she wasn't. She could have spoken Cebuano - she would have faired better. The colonial mentality I talked about is the attitude of most Filipinos toward those who prefer not to use English as their medium of expression. You can read it in blogs and news reports - Filipinos have a tendency to look down or criticise those who don't speak English as uneducated and/or illiterate. Some can be really mean and mostly very insulting. It shouldn't be this way.
I'm proud of our heritage including our native language. I chose English because it's my daily medium of communication. I grew up and currently live in the US. I speak Filipino with my parents because that is the preferred medium in their household.
Thanks for the comment though.
I have the following reasons why people ( especially ) Filipinos should be happy and proud with Venus Raj' placing as MU 2010 4th RU :
1. Looking back from where Venus came from , her achievement is a feat, a big leap. By simply gazing at her sashaying the MU stage with all the grace and elegance of a true queen, who would think that she came from an impoverished family in Bicol. ? She is truly an inspiration to all young women around the world.
2. It's been 11 years since the last Filipina was recognized as one of the top contenders in MU stage
3. Answering a very personal question ( as compared with other questions asked ) thrown at her and being watched by millions of people in a world's stage in real time , is a task that is easier said than done. I am sure that those people who are continuously criticizing Venus' answer did not even experienced to be asked with a personal question in public.
Btw, did anyone bothered to watch again the way the previous winners in MU answered the dreaded final question? i am particular to those whose native tongue is NOT English. I rest my case.
To Venus, we love you and we are very PROUD of you!!!!
I have the following reasons why people ( especially ) Filipinos should be happy and proud with Venus Raj' placing as MU 2010 4th RU :
1. Looking back from where Venus came from , her achievement is a feat, a big leap. By simply gazing at her sashaying the MU stage with all the grace and elegance of a true queen, who would think that she came from an impoverished family in Bicol. ? She is truly an inspiration to all young women around the world.
2. It's been 11 years since the last Filipina was recognized as one of the top contenders in MU stage
3. Answering a very personal question ( as compared with other questions asked ) thrown at her and being watched by millions of people in a world's stage in real time , is a task that is easier said than done. I am sure that those people who are continuously criticizing Venus' answer did not even experienced to be asked with a personal question in public.
Btw, did anyone bothered to watch again the way the previous winners in MU answered the dreaded final question? i am particular to those whose native tongue is NOT English. I rest my case.
To Venus, we love you and we are very PROUD of you!!!!
for me venus is the true winner becoz of his attitude actually shes only telling the truth . we can see the background of miss raj shes a good daughter ,she is responsible
sayo miss philipines universe maria venus raj alam ko ate mahirap ung dinaanan mo bago ka nakapasok sa top 5 and proud ako sa mga pinakita mo and i declare hindi u man nauwi ung title ikaw parin ang tunay na queen sa aming puso
wag mong pansinin ang mga taong nag cri critic sayo walang magwa nag mga yan continue your good atitude God bless miss venus raj congrats love you we are proud of you....
Venus put up a really really good fight... that night she was stunning, beautiful and perfect.. people should stop making fun and crticizing what she did at the Q&A portion.. it was a hard question..
it was a personal question and it requires you to look back to your past to see what are the mistakes that you did.. difficult right? and you have to tell it to millions of people watching.. admitting a mistake on national t.v . whoa! wait a minute.. i think that really is too personal.. especially when you are to impress people..
it is true that she may have won the crown if she gave a better answer.. but i think what she said was the safest.. and if you would compare it with the questions for the other candidates, there is a major difference.. i bet the other candidate would have the same answer as Venus's if they were asked the same question..
....i wonder if Miss Mexico gets irritated.. in all her interviews, Miss Philippines Venus Raj was always mentioned..XD
what can i say about that?
OUR FLAG STAND OUT BY HER "INTERLOGICALLY" ANSWER ....
but don't worry Ms. Venus Raj....It's OK.In my opinion, that was so a very difficult brainy question.And even smart personalities like President Obama can't answer that immediately.I UNDERSTAND....BECAUSE IN YOUR EXISTENCE-----YOU'RE FULFILLED WITH A SLIGHT NERVOUS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THAT WITH "MAJOR,MAJOR"COTA ESPANIOLES
she's beautiful
i hope all you people relize now that white face filipinas are not the most beautiful.
while most filipinas try to get and keep white skin, in the west and in usa all white skin people are spending allot of money trying to get tan because white skin means u look sick
i was very happy to see the miss philippines had darker skin tone like the majority of the filipino people.
i hate coming to the philippines and see onlythe white face filipinos on tv and workin the good jobs
i hope now the country have waken up!!!
It happens to everyone especially when we are under pressure. Let us not be too critical of her. Why do we focus so much on the "major major" answer? At least she belongs to the top 5! Let us just be glad that Philippines made it to the top.
Congrats to you Ms. Venus. You make me proud.... Despite of the criticisms, you always look at the positive side! This is how Filipinos should be... Focus on the brighter side... All of us are not perfect. You too have your own flaws... Something to ponder on...God bless everyone!
Sayang is the best word to describe Venus' feat.
She looked like the hands-down winner if not for her curt reply to a simple and standard question.
Sa tutuo lng pumunta ako sa link na ito ay para lamang makabasa ukol sa naging pambato natin sa MISS U na si Miss Venus Raj. Wala akong plano magcomment. Pero nang mabasa ko lahat ang comments (na sadyang makatuwiran ang karamihan at ang iba naman ay nagdudulot na makairita pa lalo na sa ibang lahi) at di ko nabasa ang hawig sa punto ko, kaya ako'y naenganyo na maglahad din.
Para sa akin marahil ang tanong ay sadyang nakaukol sa kanya dahil sa kanyang background.
Alam n'ya na sa kabila ng lahat siya'y mapalad pa rin na siya'y inaruga ng wasto at kanya naman itong matuwid na sinusuklian. Kalakip pa dito marahil ay ang awa ng Panginoon na mapayapang tumatakbo ang kanyang buhay. At bilang isang taong di pa sana'y sa kaplastikan ng mundo, ang kanyang sagot na walang pag-iimbot ay tama.
Aminin natin ang katotohanan na ang gusto ng tao ngayon ay nakabase sa magandang panoorin at magandang pakinggan. Hindi naman ito masama kung tutuosin. Ang di maganda dito ay ang 100% tayong maniwala.
Ex.: During campaign period may mga corrupt politician na nagsisimba at magalang na nakikipagkapwa-tao lalo na sa mahihirap. Kapag nakakita ng mga magulang na kasama ang mga bata, ito'y babatiin, kakargahin etc. Kinabukasan ay mapapanood na sa TV at hahangaan ng mga manonood (bagama't di lahat humahanga lalo na yung nakakakilala sa kanya). Nalalaman ito ng politician na positive ang result sa ganitong system. Kaya masisisi ba natin siya kung lagi niyang gagawin ito during campaign period o di kaya'y gayahin ng ibang politicians? HINDI di ba?
So, ganoon lang kasimple ang nangyari kay Miss Venus Raj. Siya'y tutuo pang tao 'ika nga at di pa sana'y sa kaplastikan ng showbiz.. Ang uso ngayon ay..." di baleng sinungaling, basta magandang pakinggan at di baleng masama ang kalooban basta maganda ang panglabas". Malaki ang possibilty na sa hinaharap ang buhay niya'y iikot sa mundo ng kaplastikan o showbiz. Tatagal siya diyan kung sasakay diya sa kaplastikan at kung hindi naman siya'y madaling malalaglag sa banka. OPTION niya yun at dito na magsisimula ang sarili niyang BUHAY base sa sariling decision.
I don't know. I can't seem to get rid of this thought from my mind. How did that one and only difficult personal question got into the pool of current events questions. It's as if all of the judges have all of the questions and that personal question was meant for a particular contestant. Para kay Venus kaya talaga yun? Hmmmm.
I mean she's been so popular from day 1. One of the comments in ABC news said that she was destined for the crown. It's as if the organizers were saying. . . "Hold on. You won't get the crown that easy. Answer this if you can."
Most of us can think of a brilliant answer to that question in minutes, hours, or even a couple of days. I would even dare that professional resume critic they interviewed on ABC news if she can think of an answer right away. I was able to think of an answer for her 30 minutes and polished it within the day. But in 30 seconds?. . . I have yet to find someone who can do that. I can't help but think that she was denied of the crown. But anyway, it's just a thought.
I really wanted her to have the crown. I wanted her to succeed after all that she went through. She's still the best that we've had for a long time and she deserves to win. Nonetheless, I'm still proud of her as a Filipino. MABUHAY KA VENUS! This is just the start of your long and successful journey.
Congratulations our beloved Miss Universe Venus Raj. Out of the 80 finalists, u placed at the 4th. Dont be disappointed of what other filipinos said about the Q&A portion answered. We all know that ur nervous knewing that the whole world watched over u at that time. That was the Philippine victory my dear. Go for that, never surrender.!! go go go venus! We love u.. We are proud of u!
The “major, major” problem with MVR’s answer isn’t with the essence of her answer but it’s with how she answered the question and the insufficient elaboration complicated by what seemed to be disjointed set of statements. We Filipinos get her answer because we are probably more attuned to the nuances of how we express ourselves and how we translate our thoughts in English. Unfortunately, her message didn’t resonate clearly. She should have been given the chance to express herself in Filipino or Taglish for that matter.
Let us consider Venus's background in life - small town girl, let alone a farm girl as some have said.
Yes, she is educated, articulate, beautiful and confident.
But what big, major mistakes could she have committed in her life given the life she has lived - and may so in the next few years.
Big or "major" mistakes are "turning point mistakes" -
- like drunk driving
- like party hard and lose part of yourself
- like gamble, lose or squander large sums of money
- like negligence in school
- like stealing away another person's opportunity
- like being a defiant child
- like stealing another woman's husband
- like getting pregnant out of wedlock
Perhaps, or most likey, Venus has not done, and is not, any of those.
If she did or was - then what next?
She is not a perfect person, and maybe the biggest "mistakes" she has done in her in life are so sommon that it cannot be considered "big" or "major" at all.
That is probably why she answered the way she answered.
To be honest, after hearing her answer, I was disappointed, for a moment I felt her answer was a arrogant.
Then again, what if I had to answer that question in front of 1000 people.
But let's move on people.
Venus, I admire you.
It's all OK.
Congratulations, Venus. You made the Filipinos proud again most especialy the Bicolanos. We love you for being you.
for me she is right w/ her response to the question. the question was "what big mistake" and not "what mistake" she made. probably for her big mistakes are like committing a crime and other mistakes of similar degree of which she did not commit.
i am proud of her and we should be.
Congratulations to our very own Ms. Philippines, Maria Venus Raj! For me, you are the true winner in the last concluded pageant because you are a standout among the herd! I really felt sad when you were called as 4rth runner-up ! To hell with the judges who are stereotyped and doesnt know what a regal beauty queen is! Sa totoo lang mas nanlumo pako ng di ka nanalo as MIss Universe kesa dun sa hostage tragedy! I hope you will go far as an international model because Kabog mo silang lahat at walang kokontra nyan! Kahit si Ms. Mexico Im sure ikaw ang bet to win as the new Ms. Universe! Again, more power to you our Ms. UNiverse!
Congratulations to Venus and Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
I agree with some writers here that our beauty contestants must have interpreters during the Q&A portion. Hearing the question in your own language truly make you feel at home and more confident as a contestant. This will buy you time to think and answer difficult questions.
I remember a European delegate in one international beauty contest had with her an interpreter although she could understand and speak English. Her question was easy and she told her interpreter that she could answer it directly.
Conversational English is different from written English. We Filipinos are very literal in using English words. I just realized it in my few months stay here in the U.S.A. Phrases like "see you LATER", "give me a SECOND", "the OTHER day", "a COUPLE of miles", etc. should not be taken literally.
We thought that we, Filipinos, are very good in English but even our pronunciations of a lot of words are incorrect especially those containing syllables with "e" and "u". Try to watch English movies with subtitles and and be keen.
I hope someday that our beauty pageant organizers will realize this as an option. Why not TRY?
The Miss Universe 2010 Organizer lost a unique beauty and regal new Miss U in Miss Venus Raj of the Philippines. She could have been a good material to write about over blank-looking and un-exciting Ms Mexico. Ms Raj also transgresses two countries---the Philippines and India.
From among the finalists of the usual big "B's" beauties "--- BIG (unkept) HAIR, BIG BOOBS and BIG BUTT--- which are typical of the Latina, Caribbean and Caucasian beauties--- Venus, stood out as fresh, neat, confident, polished, lean, beautiful and regal ( according to Ms U owner Donald Trump, who probably bite his lips and reprimand his staff why that stupid and odd personal question was there among current events thrown to the four other finalists).
America and the world would have wanted Venus as the new Ms U because America wants something new. I myself gag with all these same kind of beauty stereotypes coming from the Ms U. It is so predictable. Give them the Big B's , and they will get the places.
But went wrong?
1.) BRING BACK THE SOUND PROOF BOX. Ms U should bring back their SOUND PROOF cubicles and ask the same question to the finalists like they did in the past. It is fair play. It was, and will be, their BRAND IDENTITY anyway. It was a Ms U innovation that no other beauty pageant contests ever have had.
Who ever introduced that the judges ask the contestants their questions like in job interviews, should be junked. Some judges can not even pronounce and read their questions properly with emphasis and clarity.
2. TEACH OUR CANDIDATES TO ANSWER TRICKY QUESTIONS. Here is how.
MAIN STRATEGY is FOCUS. The more one FOCUSES, the more one will get it right.
1. READ THE LIPS of the one asking the question. It helps.
2. WATCH FOR KEY WORDS. In Ms Raj case, these were " "MISTAKE" and (how to make it) " RIGHT".
3. REPEAT THESE KEY WORDS INTO AFFIRMATIVE ANSWERS. It may sound elementary, but these KEY WORDS will guide one to answer the question like a lawyer would do with precision.
If one is nervous, repeating the KEY WORDS are like keys to open up the doors to answers. It is the best guarantee one will get it right:
EXAMPLES OF TRICKY QUESTIONS:
What is your favorite COLOR and how will you DEFINE this color into your ASPIRATIONS in LIFE?
Answer: " My favorite COLOR is BLUE because I DEFINE it as a cool hue that reflects my ASPIRATIONS in LIFE to become more peace-loving."
The same tricky question above is parallel to Venus' question:
“What is one big MISTAKE that you’ve made in your LIFE and what did you do to make it RIGHT?"
Answer: "One big MISTAKE in my LIFE is I was a shy and introvert teenager because I come from a less-privileged family. What i did to CORRECT it was by becoming aware of my worth as a person who matters so I will become a better citizen of the Universe!"
She could have won.
If Venus were able to elaborate her answer, I think this is how it would have played out, "You know what, Sir, in my 22 years of existence, I can honestly say that I've not yet made the biggest mistake in my life. That's not to say I'm perfect which is far from it. Everybody makes mistakes. The important thing is I learn from them and they help me become who I am today - a much, much better person, confident, thoughtful, gracious, and above all, appreciative of the love and support my family gives me and embracing what life brings. If I were to mention one mistake, perhaps, I should have been more proactive in fixing my birth documents. As you may all very well know, I was stripped of my title due to inconsistencies in my birth documents. I would not have gone through that disappointing time in my life if I did something to correct the documents. However, in retrospect, mistakes happen for a reason and this one for certain because I truly believe that I will not be enjoying as much as I'm enjoying this very moment on this stage getting to know you all and befriending all these wonderful and talented women all over the world. Most importantly, I learned a valuable lesson in life which is to fight for my right, the right to represent my country. So thank you so much that I'm here. Thank you, thank you so much! Mabuhay!
Let's face it, there could be better answers. The question was so simple but it takes time to think of "biggest" mistake in life espcially for young good woman plus the stage fright. It was the safest answer and that was fine. I believe Venus is smart . She did a great job. CONGRATULATIONS VENUS AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING US PROUD. GOD BLESS YOU MORE!
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