Miss Philippines Said She'd Never Made a Major Mistake, Ruining Chance of Winning Beauty Pageant

Aug. 24, 2010— -- Miss Universe contestant Maria Venus Raj said Monday night that she's never made a major mistake. That may have been the biggest mistake of her life.

The 22-year-old Miss Philippines was on stage at the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, in the final round of judging before a live studio and television audience. Under the glare of the lights and television cameras, actor and judge Billy Baldwin asked Raj what you might think would be a simple question.

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"What is one big mistake that you've made in your life, and what did you do to make it right?" Baldwin asked.

"You know what, sir? In my 22 years of existence, I can say there is nothing major, major, I mean, problem that I have done in my life," said Raj with a wide smile on her face, adding that she thought it was a "great question."

After she expertly negotiated platform heels and a bikini, Miss Philippines had been favored to win the whole contest. But with that answer? Raj took fourth, and Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete took the title. No answer, no crown, it seems.

To be fair, Raj is not the only one who has struggled with that question. Everyone from presidents to job applicants have struggled with their response.

President George W. Bush was asked to name his biggest mistake in an interview.

"Mmm... I wish I, you would have given me a, this written, a question ahead of time," the president coughed out.

Plenty of smart people find that one question to be a tough one.