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I'm ashamed to say that I saw the whole segment, live (that's what flipping on a Friday night will get you).
First, 3 out of the 5 finalists were atrocious. How did they all make it presumably through many local and state competitions to the national one with such bad public speaking skills? Many used the word "like" over and over, did the valley-girl uptalk thing, and generally didn't make sense. There is such a thing as preparation, and they clearly didn't do it.
Second, if you don't hear the question the first time, you ask for it to be repeated. Standard interviewing strategy.
Third, as my roommate put it, she's only gotten away with being this dumb for so long because she's so pretty. Start putting a premium on smarts rather than beauty and she'll hit the books.
Fourth, it's too bad she lives in the Internet age. Pageant contestants have said dumb stuff for a long time. But presumably she knew she was going on national tv, and that the Internet exists, so whatever she says when she puts herself into the spotlight is fair game.
Rugh.
