Miss Universe 2015, broadcast from Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday night, will be remembered for years for the crowning of Miss Universe Colombia, Ariadna María Gutiérrez, after host Steve Harvey read her name wrongly as the winner, and the removal of her crown less than five minutes later in favour of the correct winner, Miss Universe Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach.
Gutiérrez wore the crown, placed on her by Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega, for two minutes before Harvey returned to stage to apologize for his error, for which he took full responsibility.
It was only then that Wurtzbach was announced as the correct winner. Wurtzbach, who had already returned to join her fellow competitors at the back of the stage, was told by her fellow competitor, second-runner up Miss USA, Olivia Jordan. Wurtzbach returned out front, and Vega then came out later to move the crown on to the correct winner.
Miss Universe New Zealand executive director and CEO Nigel Godfrey, who was present in the audience to support Miss Universe New Zealand Samantha McClung, said, ‘The scenes here are extraordinary.’ His counterpart from Binibining Pilipinas, Stella Márquez-Araneta, sat in front of him.
Las Vegas, sadly, also saw a major car accident on the strip where one person was killed and 37 were injured after a car went up on the pavement, right after the telecast.
Harvey apologized to Wurtzbach backstage, while Gutiérrez still had the composure to thank her supporters.
PHOTO: Steve Harvey approached Pia Wurtzbach and personally applogized for the error. pic.twitter.com/dK3dIF70hX
— MJ Felipe (@mjfelipe) December 21, 2015
A message from #MissUniverse Colombia, @gutierrezary. https://t.co/KBzZyyHJzy
— Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 21, 2015