Miss South Carolina, Lauren Caitlin Upton, explains just what she was saying the other day (well, not really) on Miss Teen USA 2007. She says she was nervous and all, and to give her the benefit of the doubt, she was on live tv. She also claims she didn't hear most of the question (one or two words). I don't watch pageants, but is it possible to ask for a repeat of the question? Anyway, her answer wasn't simply poor, it didn't even answer the question at all.
The hosts on the show do seem to empathize with her by telling her they do that all the time. And they laugh. Then you wonder, hmm, are they laughing with her or at her? They even ask her the same question again! Of course, answering the same question again looks like an attempt at damage control, plus it sounds rehearsed. In fact the whole interview seems to have been scripted.
In case you want to relive the moment of Mario Lopez sneaking a grin in, or haven't watched the video where she answered a question with an incomprehensible answer, you can watch it here.