Miss Colombia, Ariadna María Gutiérrez Arévalo, was mistakenly named the winner of the Miss Universe 2015 pageant on FOX television Sunday night by the pageant host, Steve Harvey.
Standing on the stage awaiting the announcement of the 2015 Miss Universe winner were the remaining three finalists Miss USA – Olivia Jordan, Miss Philippines – Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, and Miss Colombia.
Miss USA was named 2nd runner up, which left Miss Colombia and Miss Philippines center-stage holding hands and briefly hugging each other in well-wishing support. Harvey then announced that Miss Colombia was the winner. Miss Philippines then left the stage while Miss Colombia was handed the Miss Universe bouquet and crowned Miss Universe 2015 while waving and blowing kisses to the audience.
Harvey then interrupts the celebration by saying, “O.K. folks, I have to apologize.” The crowd and contestants then laughed given Harvey’s reputation of making jokes during his performances. “The first runner up is Colombia,” Harvey continued, which was met with screams, gasps and boos from the audience while Miss Phillipines stood wide-eyed in shock. “Miss Universe 2015 is Phillipines,” Havey announced as the grand finale music was cued a second time.
Miss Philippines then walked back to center-stage where Miss Colombia bent down for the Miss Universe crown to be removed from her head and placed upon Miss Philippines’ head.
“Everything happens for a reason, so I’m happy,” said Miss Colombia Ariadna María Gutiérrez Arévalo backstage video as she wiped away tears.
After being crowned Miss Universe, Miss Phillipenes Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach said jokingly to Miss USA, “It’s a very non-traditional crowning, isn’t it?”
Later on in the evening, the Miss Universe Pageant issued the following statement regarding the Miss Universe crowning fail:
“The excitement of live TV was evident tonight on The Miss Universe stage with over 10 million live fan votes tabulated. Unfortunately, a live telecast means that human error can come into play. We witnessed that tonight when the wrong winner was initially announced. Our sincerest apologies to Miss Universe Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez-Arévalo, Miss Universe Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, their families and fans. We congratulate Miss Universe Philippines as Miss Universe 2015.”
Photo and video credit: Miss Universe Pageant
