It was slightly awkward but to be honest i think you would have to want there to be some kind of issue in order to have taken it that way. I hate public speaking and have had to do it a fair bit. I know that starting down one route and the attempting to get yourself out of it without acknowledging ".. oops, that sounded a bit weird, what I meant was .." always ends up with you digging an even bigger hole.

I think "it came down to who wanted Kona more" was probably true, probably something she thought and probably something that she realized sounded a bit sketchy the minute she said it. She then went on to say that she would be thinking of the other while she was in Kona, which probably rubbed salt in despite it being her method of 'being nice' after saying she wanted it more.

I think benefit of the doubt should absolutely be given here. I can not imagine she meant anything by it at all and was trying to say that they were all as good as each other, the only difference was she wanted it a bit more on the day. A nice sentiment, poorly worded and then raked over by people. If you look at it the other way, like she meant to do it, then that would make her a pretty brave person to just abuse the others on the stage in front of a crowd of strangers with no lack of confidence. It simply can't have been meant that way.

She seemed sweet to me and, apart from the ill advised choice of words, didn't come off as arrogant or self important, just got her sentiments muddled.

---

https://www.pbandjcoaching.com
https://www.thisbigroadtrip.com