Did Miss Venezuela’s Translation Issues Cost Her the Miss Universe 2024 Crown?

Everyone’s talking about Miss Denmark’s victory at Miss Universe 2024 – but Latina contestant Miss Venezuela is also making headlines, and not for the reasons you’d expect.

This weekend, Miss Universe 2024 crowned its winner. Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjær Theilvig, took home the title on Saturday, November 16, at the Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City. However, much of the online chatter isn’t just about the win—it’s about a translation mishap involving Miss Venezuela, Ileana Marquez Pedroza. Here’s what went down.

During the Q&A portion of the competition, a critical question was lost in translation. Miss Venezuela was asked to describe the ideal woman of today and what qualities she shared with her. However, the translator misinterpreted the question, saying “ideal moment” instead of “ideal woman.” This led Miss Venezuela to answer a completely different question.

Her response? She said her “ideal moment” was sharing the stage with 137 incredible women, celebrating diversity, and delivering a global message of love and respect. Although her answer was eloquent and inspiring, it didn’t address the original question about the “ideal woman.”

The mistake sparked a heated debate online. Social media users believe the judges should have addressed the translation error. One user, @valeriaaortizm, wrote in Spanish: “The jury should take into account that the translator didn’t give Miss Venezuela the right question. #MissUniverse.”

Others questioned the importance of English proficiency in international competitions. Another user, @mannuelsoler_, commented: “It’s 2024, and you don’t know how to speak English? This is an international contest! It doesn’t matter if you answer in Spanish, but you need at least a basic understanding of what’s being asked. The Miss Venezuela organization lost because they didn’t prioritize English!”

Despite the mix-up, Miss Venezuela secured fourth place. After the competition, she addressed the issue in an interview with a social media influencer. She explained that she chose to use a translator so her answer could be understood globally but confirmed that the translator had miscommunicated the question.

While it’s unclear whether this mistake ultimately cost her the crown, Miss Venezuela remains gracious and proud to have represented her country.

What do you think? Should translation mishaps like this be addressed differently in international competitions? Let us know in the comments!