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WATCH: Thailand's Maria Poonlertlarp in tears after Miss Universe loss

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ABS-CBN News

<p>She was one of the <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/11/23/17/in-photos-rachel-peters-toughest-rivals-to-miss-universe-crown">favorites</a>. </p><p>But Thailand&#x27;s Maria Poonlertlarp struggled during the Q&amp;A portion of the Miss Universe pageant, which proved to have cost her the opportunity to end her country&#x27;s title drought. </p><p>She finished in the Top 5, the closest a candidate from Thailand has come to winning the competition since 1988, when Phonthip Nakhirunkanok was crowned. </p><p>Last year, Chalita Suansane placed in the Top 6. </p><p>The lost chance led to Poonlertlarp, in her native language, tearfully addressing her fans via a Facebook video which was uploaded hours after the pageant concluded. </p><p>She expressed her disappointment over the result, but said that she&#x27;s grateful that her fans are appreciative of her best efforts. </p><p>She also revealed that she&#x27;ll be returning to Thailand after she visits the Philippines with some of the other candidates of Miss Universe 2017. </p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/Missuniversethailand/videos/1427022017410600/" data-width="auto"> </div><p>In the Q&amp;A round, Poonlertlarp was asked a question about &quot;the most important social movement&quot; today. She ended up declaring that &quot;the youth is the future.&quot; </p><p>Jamaica&#x27;s Davina Bennett, Colombia&#x27;s Laura Gonzalez, and South Africa&#x27;s Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters all moved to the Top 3, with Del-Peters eventually winning over the two. </p><p>Poonlertlarp&#x27;s Top 5 finish is still the highest from any country from the Asia-Pacific this year, with the Philippines&#x27; Rachel Peters <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/11/27/17/rachel-peters-ends-miss-universe-2017-journey">bowing out</a> after the evening gown competition. </p>