Did Filipina Beauty Pageant Contestant 'Copy' BTS Leader RM's UN Speech?

On January 27, 2024, the 2024 Rodeo King & Queen pageant took place in San Pablo, Isabela, Philippines, as part of the lively Baka Festival celebrating the local cattle industry. In the contest, candidate number 17, Lala Cheena Mae Bautista from Barangay Poblacion, stood out during the question and answer session for (not so good) reason. During the Q&A round, responding to the query, “If you were a genie in a bottle, who would you like to serve as your master?" candidate 17 initially chose her mother. However, her subsequent words have surprised the BTS ARMY.

The candidate goes on to say, “Good evening everyone… If I was a genie in a bottle, I would like to serve my mother as my master… Because all I can say about this question is whatever who you are, where you are from, your skin colour, your gender identity, just speak yourself, find your voice, find your name by speaking yourself, thank you," as reported by Koreaboo.

A closer look revealed that her words mirrored a segment of RM’s significant 2018 UN speech on behalf of UNICEF. The historical moment occurred when BTS became the first boy band to address the United Nations. The contestant’s response reminded the BTS fandom of RM’s speech and they suspect the contestant allegedly copied him.

In his RM speech, RM said, “Tell me your story. I want to hear your voice, and I want to hear your conviction. No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin colour, gender identity: speak yourself."

Watch RM’s speech below:

Despite the lack of originality in Lala Cheena Mae Bautista’s response, she secured the top spot in The 2024 Rodeo King & Queen pageant. She won awards in categories such as Best in Swimsuit, Creative Rodeo Attire, and Best in the Evening Gown category.

The ARMY has responded to the incident amusingly. “Kim namjoon you will always be famous," wrote a user.

A post shared by (@purpledayz_bts)

Another viewer said, “When you are asked to talk but only that one speech is on ur mind."

However, this is not the first time an answer by a beauty pageant contestant has gone viral for the wrong reasons. In 2007, Miss South Carolina Teen USA, Caitlin Upton, garnered attention for her seemingly inappropriate response to a question about Americans’ geographical awareness.

The judges had asked her, “Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can’t locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?"

To which, Upton replied, “I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, um, some people out there in our nation don’t have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq and everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa and should help Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future."