Miss Philippines crowns Miss Universe 2015

Risingbd Desk: The Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach has been crowned the Miss Universe 2015 but for one brief moment Sunday evening, it appeared as if it might be a repeat win for Colombia.

Colombia contestant Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo was already wearing the crown as this year`s Miss Universe winner when host Steve Harvey returned to apologize.

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

A mystified Wurtzbach appeared 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 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach is being crowned the 2015 Miss Universe

The newly crowned Miss Universe from the Philippines apologized on behalf of the Miss Universe organization for the mistake.

Harvey also apologized on Twitter, but at first misspelled the home countries of both contestants before also correcting that.

"I`d like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake," he wrote. "I feel terrible."

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.

Source: Agencies

risingbd/DHAKA/Dec 21, 2015/Augustin Sujan