Miss Colombia breaks her silence after Miss Universe goof-up
The dramatic mix-up during the Miss Universe pageant is hard to digest for millions of viewers who watched the event live.
The pageant's host, US comedian Steve Harvey, misread his cue card in front of a global television audience late Sunday and initially announced that Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, had triumphed instead of Miss Philippines.
Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez is mistakenly crowned Miss Universe 2015 during the 2015 MISS UNIVERSE show at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, California, on December 20, 2015. AFP
Heavy is the heart of the girl who wears the crown for, like 5 minutes.
But Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, is a picture of grace and her statement is dripped with class.
The beauty queen released a statement shortly after the US $400,000 crown featuring 10 carats of diamonds was plucked from her head and awarded to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.
Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez is mistakenly crowned Miss Universe 2015 during the 2015 MISS UNIVERSE show at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, California, on December 20, 2015. AFP
"After the storm comes the calm. I want to thank each and everyone of you who have sent messages of support and strength. Every one of you has become an incredible human being in my book and I am the most fortunate and thankful for having the support not only from one country but from the whole entire world," she wrote.
And she also had love for the real Miss Universe, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.
"I also want to congratulate the Philippines for their new Miss Universe. The happiness that you must be feeling must be incredible. Life continues and in the future we will find out why things happen the way they happen. Thank you all for your LOVE SUPPORT and KINDNESS."
Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez (L) is mistakenly crowned Miss Universe 2015 by Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega (R) during the 2015 MISS UNIVERSE show at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, California, on December 20, 2015. AFP
The whole incident became a major embarrassment for the pageant organisers and also for the host.
Half-laughing, half-sobbing with emotion, Gutierrez was fleetingly crowned and congratulated at the ceremony in Las Vegas, waving to fans as she cradled a huge bouquet of flowers. But as she blew kisses to an adoring crowd, Harvey was forced to come clean about his blunder.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Monday he was shocked by the episode, which made the front pages of the country's main newspapers.
"I was watching Miss Universe with my family," Santos told Radio Nacional. "Our queen was marvelous. She looked spectacular. It was such a disappointment when the host said he'd made a mistake."
"To me, our queen is and will remain Miss Universe. They put the crown on her head. The photos are there to prove it. To me, as a Colombian, she is still Miss Universe."
Miss Colombia 2015 Ariadna Gutierrez (L) is mistakenly named Miss Universe 2015 instead of first runner-up during the 2015 during the 2015 MISS UNIVERSE show at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, California, on December 20, 2015. AFP
Santos had publicly celebrated a year ago when the previous Miss Colombia, Paulina Vega Dieppa, won the Miss Universe 2014 title.
Colombia-born film star Sofia Vergara, America's highest-paid TV actress, also posted a photo of Gutierrez on Instagram, with a Spanish caption that read "queen all the same."
The crown is removed from Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez (L) by Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega (C) after the pageant's host misread the card that actually stated Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (R) as winner. AFP
Comedian Harvey later apologised for his mistake. “I’d like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible,” he posted on Twitter.
"Secondly, I’d like to apologise to the viewers at that I disappointed as well. Again it was an honest mistake. I don’t want to take away from this amazing night and pageant. As well as the wonderful contestants. They were all amazing."