Lauren Caitlin Upton, Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2007
, whose answer to a simple competition question about America's Geography education last Friday August 24, had her instantly turning to an internet sensation, now says she made a mistake. Appearing on Tuesday's Today show (video here), Lauren Caitlin Upton, 18, discussed her mangled answer at the nationally televised beauty pageant when she was queried on why she thought one-fifth of Americans are unable to locate the United States on a map. Today's Ann Curry suggested that everything must have come at Upton at once, to which the beauty queen (third runner-up in the contest) replied, "Yes, everything did come at me at once. I was overwhelmed, and I made a mistake. I'm human." As for the pivotal moment, "right when that question was asked to me," she recounted, "I was in complete shock, and I was just overwhelmed." Upton says she thinks she heard only one or two words of the question itself. "I drew a blank," she said, "I misunderstood."On the Today's show, Lauren Caitlin Upton finally gave a much better answer
"Personally, my friends and I, we know exactly where the United States is on our map. I don't know anyone else who doesn't. And if the statistics are correct, I believe there should be more emphasis on geography in our education so people will learn how to read maps better."Source: People via Flixya