Mister Universe 2024 4th runner-up Markki Stroem of the Philippines. Stroem/Instagram

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1734953676460Markki Stroem 12232024.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Mister Universe 2024 4th runner-up Markki Stroem of the Philippines. Stroem/Instagram"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Mister Universe 2024 4th runner-up Markki Stroem of the Philippines. Stroem/Instagram </span></span></span></div><p>Markki Stroem took to social media to apologize for his blunder in the just concluded Mister Universe 2024 pageant, saying that nervousness got the best of him on stage.</p><p>As he introduced himself as the Philippines&#x27; candidate, Stroem mistakenly referred to the country as the &quot;Land of the Rising Sun&quot; -- a title associated with Japan -- instead of &quot;Pearl of the Orient Seas.&quot;</p><p>A clip of his slip-up has since been posted on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/100083739581857/videos/3948946112008365">various pageant pages</a>. Shortly after the competition, Stroem addressed the issue in an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DD6Y6YbRSmP/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1">Instagram post</a>.</p><p>&quot;Happy to have represented the &#x27;Pearl of the Orient,&#x27; the Philippines! I am so deeply sorry, I guess sometimes nerves take over,&quot; he explained.</p><p>Fans and friends of Stroem did not seem to mind his mistake -- after all, he brought honor to the Philippines by finishing 4th runner-up in Mister Universe 2024.</p><p>He also won two special awards: Best in Talent and Best in National Costume.</p><p>Thanking his fellow Filipinos, the singer and theater actor said: &quot;Maraming salamat, Pilipinas! Maraming salamat sa suporta na binigay niyo sa kin! Nakakataba ng puso.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Now time for a little well-deserved rest,&quot; he ended. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2024/12/23/markki-stroem-finishes-4th-runner-up-in-mister-universe-2024-1709">Markki Stroem finishes 4th runner-up in Mister Universe 2024</a></div><div><strong>Related video:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NnSjc0lwn0g?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>He finished 4th runner-up in Mister Universe 2024, on top of winning two special awards. </p>

He finished 4th runner-up in Mister Universe 2024, on top of winning two special awards.

'Sometimes nerves take over': Markki Stroem apologizes for blunder in Mister Universe 2024 intro | ABS-CBN

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'Sometimes nerves take over': Markki Stroem apologizes for blunder in Mister Universe 2024 intro

'Sometimes nerves take over': Markki Stroem apologizes for blunder in Mister Universe 2024 intro

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 23, 2024 07:44 PM PHT

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