MANILA, Philippines - Before she became known worldwide as the Miss Universe fourth runner-up who gave a "major major" answer, Maria Venus Raj got to try her hand at judging beauty pageants.

The 5'9" beauty from Camarines Sur, who has won in several local pageants, reveals that she has been on the other side of the fence as she sifted through candidates in a handful of small beauty contests in her hometown years ago.

Just as it's hard for a candidate not to feel nervous while facing a panel of discerning judges on stage, Raj notes that it's difficult to pick one candidate after being presented with hordes of beautiful women.

With all the pretty faces and gorgeous bodies in front of her, she admits that choosing the best-looking candidate is quite a challenging, if not impossible, feat.

"Kasi sa beauty pageant hindi mo ma-compare ang beauty ng isang kandidata sa beauty ng isa. Parang everyone is different from each other," she said in an interview at ANC's Talkback with Tina Palma.

The 22-year-old beauty says, however, that there's an easy way to determine which one of them deserves to win, at least in her own standards.

If a candidate has enough charm and confidence to make her stand out from the crowd, Raj believes that the crown is as good as hers.

"'Yung personality ng kandidata ('yung nagpapapanalo sa kanya). Kasi meron 'yung iba, oo sobrang ganda pero shy, o hindi masyadong nag-peperform. Although sobrang ganda, hindi siya masyadong mukhang panalo," she explains, adding, "(It's about the) aura. Kung nagspa-spark siya noong gabing 'yun, definitely mananalo siya."

Indeed, things worked in the favor of the bubbly and upbeat Raj, who was a crowd favorite even before the coronation night of the Miss Universe pageant.

At fourth runner-up, the beauty with a 22-inch waistline became a hot topic across the globe -- from news organizations to social networks. At one point, she was even more talked-about than Miss Universe herself, who hailed from Mexico.

"Ako po 'yung tao na kine-claim ko lahat. Naniniwala kasi ako na when you claim something, mapapasayo, ibibigay sa'yo ng Panginoon. It's all in the mind. Kung iisipin mo na mananalo ka, mananalo ka," she says.

She adds, "Bago ako lumabas (noong preliminary competition), lagi akong kumakanta ng something na makaka-boost ng confidence mo na paran 'this is my destiny. I will never say die. I will win.'"

Putting 'major major' to rest

The killer question from American actor William Baldwin during the final leg of the Miss Universe pageant is widely believed to have derailed Raj's chances of getting the crown.

The Hollywood star asked, "What is one big mistake that you've made in your life and what did you do to make it right?"

The Filipino-Indian beauty replied, "You know what, sir, in my 22 years of existence, I can say that there is nothing major major problem that I've done in my life because I'm very confident with my family, with the love that they're giving to me. So thank you so much that I am here. Thank you, thank you so much."

Several groups and individuals -- from local beauty queens to foreign news organizations -- have already stated what they believed would've been a better answer to Baldwin's question.

Raj, however, maintains that she is satisfied with her response to the American judge's question, even if it was said out of nervousness.

"Alam mo namang hindi natin kayang i-please ang lahat ng tao so hindi siguro nila in-expect na 'yun ang sasabihin ko, na hindi ko na-meet ang expectations nila. Pero sa part ko I was very happy na at least, alam mo 'yu, andun ka sa stage tapos sumasagot ka sa tanong ng judge at confident ka pa rin na nagsasalita, na hindi ka nag-stutter o huminto," she shares.

She adds, "Hindi nag-boo 'yung mga tao kasi wala akong nasabi. Siguro 'yun ang worst na mangyayari and at least hindi 'yun nangyari. And it's a very big achievement para sa akin."

Raj feels happy to be given an opportunity to appear before the public through television guestings and interviews, saying that these will give the people a chance to "know what kind of person I really am."

"(After all) you cannot judge a person with a single question," she says.

After bringing pride to the Filipino people with her recent victory, Raj said she is ready to take on either the field of show business, modeling, or news reporting.

And just as she wowed the world with her beauty and confidence, we all expect Raj to do all these in a "major major" way.