Miss USA contestant gives incoherent answer to pageant question
A Miss USA finalist has put her foot in it during the question and answer stage of the famous pageant.
The competition had been narrowed down to the top five contestants when judge Nene Leakes asked Miss Utah Marissa Powell about gender equality in the workplace.
Leakes referenced a recent study which revealed that in forty percent of American homes with children, women were the primary bread-winners despite statistically earning less than men.
"What does this say about society?" Ms Leakes asked.
21-year-old Powell smiled through the question before fumbling her way through an incoherent and unrelated response.
"I think we can relate this back to education and how we are continuing to try to strive to … figure out how to create jobs right now," she said.
"That is the biggest problem and I think especially the men are … seen as the leaders of this, and so we need to try to figure out how to create education better.
"So that we can solve this problem.
"Thank you."
Powell paused several times during her awkward response, smiling to the camera while she attempted to collect her thoughts.
Pageant host Guiliana Rancic, who was holding the microphone for the red-faced contestant at the time of the stuff-up, looked away as it became apparent Powell had no idea what she was talking about.
Though embarrassing, Miss Utah's response didn't entirely ruin her chances against the competition.
She came in third runner up and also won Miss Photogenic.
Miss Connecticut, Erin Brady, was crowned Miss USA 2013.
