Dada’s bold runway dance captivates global audience

If Nick Kosir, a well-known CNN weatherman, were asked about the beauty queen recently crowned at the conclusion of the Miss Grand Thailand pageant, he might not have an answer.

Kosir did, however, take notice of a contestant from Kalasin province, Darathorn Yuthong, whose remarkable hip-hop dance during the swimsuit round caught his attention and prompted him to share it on TikTok (@OfficialNickKosir).

He even said that, if Darathorn ever comes to New York, he would like to dance with her in Times Square.

The pageant concluded on March 30, but Darathorn’s moment on stage has since gone viral around the world, turning her into a surprise internet sensation.

The 18-year-old may not have taken home the crown, but she captured global attention with a bold and unconventional swimsuit walk that broke with pageant tradition.

Rather than a standard runway strut, Darathorn delivered a high-energy performance infused with hip-hop elements, combining sharp, rhythmic movements with powerful poses.

The performance rapidly spread across social media, racking up massive viewership and inspiring countless recreations, both in Thailand and internationally.

Kosir described the clip as his favourite dance video of 2026, noting the stark contrast between Darathorn’s bold, all-out performance and the more conventional routines of other contestants.

In his post, Kosir shared Darathorn’s dance, saying it was officially his favourite dance video of 2026.

“All the other contestants were doing cute little dances. She may have said, ‘Forget that. I came here to do one thing — kill it,’ and that’s exactly what she did,” he said.

“She didn’t win the pageant. She made it to the top 20, and that was it. But even though she didn’t win, I feel like she kind of won. She won the internet and the world. To be honest, I don’t really think she cared about winning in the first place. I feel like she was just there to have a good time, vibe out and build her aura,” he added.

He even suggested that Fortnite, an online video game, include her dance in the game, saying it would be “a match made in heaven.”

He ended his commentary with this invitation:

“Listen, Miss ma’am, if you see this video — if you’re ever coming to New York — I want to go dance with you in Times Square. We can ‘stank face’ everybody within like a half-mile radius.”

Following his comments, the clip gained even more traction online, with thousands of users flooding social media with reactions and praise, positioning Darathorn’s performance as one of the most talked-about viral moments to emerge from this year’s pageant.

Not only CNN, but also CNA and the New York Post reported on her dance.