Miss California Nadia Mejia was a frontrunner to win Miss USA 2016. But she missed out on the opportunity after flubbing her answer of economic equality during the interview round.
On Sunday night, before Miss District of Columbia Deshauna Barber was crowned Miss USA 2016, judge Nigel Barker asked Mejia on her take on how to end social and economic inequality. Sadly, Mejia blanked trying to come up with an answer. After closing her eyes in silence for a few seconds to gather her thoughts, she muttered something about the need for the rich to be more giving.
"When it comes to social and economic inequality, I think that the rich and the poor need to stop being so segregated. I think there is a middle class. I think that the rich need to…" She continued: "I think that the rich need to be able to be giving, and I think the poor need to work hard. And I think the middle class need to come together and find an in between."
She later took to Instagram to laugh off the flub, writing: "When you pray to God for the words to social economic inequality and his response is 'It'll take longer than 30 seconds to answer that babe' #mamaimadetop5."
Although a section of viewers mocked her for failing to come up with a sensible answer, a majority of netizens has been supportive. Check out some of the gems from Twitter.
Let's be clear: if Miss California could solve income inequality in 30 seconds she would be World Ruler not #MissUSA
— Michelle (@SoSofieFatale) June 6, 2016
Poor Miss California! Politicians have been trying to answer that question for years and they want her to answer in 20 seconds. #MissUSA2016 — Ashlyn Reese (@AshlynReese_MMJ) June 6, 2016
How can you give Miss California a question our political leaders can't even answer? C'mon. #MissUSA2016
— Alisha Russell (@_alisharussell) June 6, 2016
