Awkward: Colombia Crowned Miss Universe, But Philippines is Winner

In a terribly embarrassing moment, the wrong person was crowned Miss Universe and later ‘de-crowned’ on live TV.

Contestants console Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, center, after she was incorrectly crowned Miss Universe at the Miss Universe pageant on Sunday, December 20, 2015, in Las Vegas. Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was named Miss Universe. (Photo: AP Photo)

Miss Philippines has been crowned Miss Universe 2015, but for one brief moment Sunday evening, it appeared as if it might be a repeat win for Colombia.

Host Steve Harvey had announced Colombian contestant Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo as the winner and Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach as the first runner-up.

Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, right, reacts as the announcer incorrectly names her the new Miss Universe next to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, left, at the Miss Universe pageant (Photo: AP)

Arevalo was already wearing the crown when Harvey returned to the stage to apologise.

Harvey says it was his mistake and that he would take responsibility for not reading the card correctly that named Wurtzbach this year’s winner and Arevalo the first runner-up.

A mystified Wurtzbach appeared stunned as she walked to the front of the stage to stand alongside a crown-wearing Arevalo. Soon last year’s Miss Universe, Paulina Vega of Colombia, removed the crown off Arevalo’s head to place it on Wurtzbach’s instead.

Former Miss Universe Paulina Vega, center, removes the crown from Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, left, before giving it to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (Photo: AP)

Harvey has said no one feels worse than he does about the mistake.

Mark Shapiro of William Morris Endeavor, the pageant’s new owner, said Harvey corrected the mistake on his own on air when he realised the error. Both Harvey and Shapiro say it was human error.

Harvey was later seen apologising for the goof up in a video posted on Instagram.

(With agency inputs)