Pageant Problems
The night of glitz and glam turned to major confusion this past Sunday.
On Sunday December 20, the 2015 Miss Universe pageant took place in Las Vegas in front of an audience of millions. This was a big first for the pageant as it was the first time that viewers at home could vote alongside the judges panel.
When only two ladies still stood, Miss Colombia- Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo- and Miss Philippines- Pia Alonzo Wurzbach- the night’s host Steve Harvey announced that Miss Colombia won.
It was tears of joy and happiness until Mr. Harvey revealed that he made a slight error: Miss Philippines had actually won the competition, not Arevalo. In order to prove his error, he held up the results card to the camera.
The night got even worse for Arevalo as the previous Miss Universe, Paulina Vega, took both crown and flowers from Miss Colombia for Wurzbach.
Harvey not only apologized on air, but has since apologized on social media. He writes, “I’d like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible.”
There were many more apologies for the confusion. The Miss Universe organization has recently released a statement offering their “sincerest apologies” to the families of Arevalo and Wurzbach.
Miss Arevalo, who has received criticism for “stealing the crown,” also wishes Miss Colombia well and wants the country of Colombia to know that “none of this was [her] fault.”
“Everything happens for a reason, so I’m happy for all [that] I did,” she adds.
For now, Miss Philippines is fully taking the advice of Mr. Harvey, who told her at the end of the show that she “should just enjoy the moment.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.