Footage has captured Liz Truss appearing to become lost while trying to leave a room after outlining to fellow party members why she should be the next Prime Minister.
The Foreign Secretary kicked off her Tory leadership campaign by insisting she has a "track record" for getting things done and saying it was time to deliver on Brexit.
But she appeared to falter after taking questions from reporters, as she was spotted striding into a crowd and looking around in confusion for the exit.
An aide then hurried over to guide her away, while three members of staff could be seen erupting into giggles by the doorway.
Social media users poked fun at the gaffe, with one writing: "My favourite part of the Liz Truss leadership launch was when she got lost leaving the room."
Another said: "Some say she’s still trying to find her way out."
And a third added: "Leadership launch turns into unexpected escape room challenge."
Meanwhile, her leadership rival Tom Tugendhat suffered his own blunder after giving a 45-minute press conference in front of a banner that read “TOM: A CLEAN START” but because he had blocked it, said simply: “TOM: A TART”.
He later tweeted: "Just to be clear, I am a massive fan of Bakewell. Lovely place, lovely tarts. Always happy to champion great British produce."
Earlier asked if Ms Truss was a good Foreign Secretary, he said: “It’s quite hard to say because she hasn’t been there that long, to be honest. It’s very hard to judge.”
But he said criticism was “fair”.
“It’s not always easy but it’s fair because if you’re running for an office like this, I think it’s fair that those who know you express views.. This is a really short interview round for a hell of a big job.”
Ms Truss had earlier appeared confident as she said: "Now is the time to be bold, we cannot have business-as-usual economic management, which has led to low growth for decades."
To shouts of “hear, hear”, the loudest from Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, she said that it was time to deliver on Brexit and “win the fight for freedom, at home and abroad”.
Ms Truss enjoys the support of a number of Boris Johnson's allies including Mr Kwarteng and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries.
She made no mention of his leadership in her campaign, but was forced to detail why she did not resign as his premiership crumbled.
“I am a loyal person. I am loyal to Boris Johnson. I supported our Prime Minister’s aspirations", with Mr Kwarteng cheering "well said" as she described her loyalty to the outgoing PM.
But Ms Truss dodged questions about worries she could be outflanked by rival Penny Mordaunt, instead stressing the wide array of talent the leadership contest is displaying.
Before her speech, former Brexit minister Lord Frost has launched a scathing attack Ms Mordaunt, saying she was not up to the job when she was his deputy in talks with the EU.
Speaking on TalkTV, Lord Frost said she lacked a grasp of the detail, was unwilling to deliver tough messages to Brussels, and that he had had to ask Boris Johnson to replace her.
Ms Truss refused attack her rival, instead she told reporters there was a "huge amount of talent" in the Tory party.
The Foreign Secretary also dodged questions on how she would rebalance tax, instead saying she would bring in a new budget.
Avoiding questions about how she would rebalance tax and the economy, Ms Truss said that she would bring in a new budget and new spending review from her first day in office.
"It's vitally important that we reverse the National Insurance rises, that we don't increase corporation tax," she said.
