Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach is congratulated by contestants after she is crowned Miss Universe in Las Vegas on Sunday. (AP PHOTO)
Miss Universe title goes to Fil-German beauty from Cagayan de Oro
Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was hailed as Miss Universe 2015 during the coronation night in Las Vegas after a major boo-boo by the pageant host who announced that Miss Colombia was the new Miss Universe with Wurtzback as first runner-up.
Colombia contestant Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo was already wearing the crown as this year’s winner when host Steve Harvey came forward to apologize.
Harvey said it was his mistake and that he would take responsibility for not reading the card correctly and mixing up the results of both women.
The statuesque beauty from Cagayan de Oro looked stunned as she walked to the front of the stage alongside the crown-wearing Arevalo before last year’s Miss Universe from Colombia removed the crown and placed it on Wurtzbach’s head instead.
Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, front, reacts after she was announced as the new Miss Universe. (AP PHOTO)
Wurtzback later took it upon herself to apologize on behalf of organizers, saying the confusion that happened was an “honest mistake”.
The Philippine beauty showed poise amid the unprecedented foul up, saying she had to address the shocked public since she was now “the voice of Miss Universe”.
THIRD TITLE
This was the third time the Philippines won the prestigious beauty title ending a title drought of 42 years.
The Philippines last took home the crown in 1973 when Margie Moran won. Gloriz Diaz won the title in 1969.
Wurtzbach, told reporters afte the pageant, held at Planet Hollytwood, that she had conflicting emotions when the mistake happened: joy when she was told she was indeed the winner and not first runner-up, concern for Colombia contestant Aravelo.
Wurtzbach says she tried to approach Aravelo onstage afterward but the Colombian was crying and surrounded by a crowd of women. The Filipina said she realized it was, “probably bad timing.”
Wurtzbach bested 79 other candidates.
Harvey and an executive for pageant owner WME-IMG called it human error.
“Nobody feels worse about this than me,” said Harvey to reporters.
The show’s organizers even flashed the result card from Ernst and Young to the audience.
Wurtzbach was in shock while standing beside third placer Miss USA Olivia Jordan, taking minutes to get to the front.
Former Miss Universe Paulina Vega (center) removes the crown from Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez (left) before giving it to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (right). The pageant host apologized for misreading the contest results. (AP PHOTO)
Even Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega went back onstage to correct the results, but the telecast ended before she could do so.
“Everything happens for a reason. I am happy about everything I did and for achieving my dream,” Gutiérrez was later quoted as saying in Spanish by cronicadelquindio.com
Before the announcement of winners, singer Seal performed as the top three candidates took one last walk in the Planet Hollywood stage.
The answered the question: “Why should you be the next Miss Universe?”
Miss USA said she wanted to empower women all over the world.
Miss Colombia said that she had qualities that only a Latin woman have which makes her a shoo-in as the third Colombian to win the crown.
Miss Philippines, the last to answer, said she wanted to lend her voice to causes such as HIV/AIDS awareness and youth issues.
“I want to show the universe that I am confidently beautiful with a heart,” she said.
The competition started with women representing 80 countries between the ages of 19 and 27.
For the first time, viewers at home weighed in, with their votes being tallied in addition to four in-person celebrity judges.