Colombia leader Tweets about Miss Universe error

The 2015 Miss Universe pageant had a shocking finish on Sunday night when host Steve Harvey accidentally announced that Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, as the victor, when in fact it was Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, who won.

Instead, Harvey interrupted Gutierrez’s triumphant moment with the heartbreaking message that there had been “a frightful mistake” in the announcement, and that the crown actually belonged to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

This year’s Miss Universe pageant has ended in chaos in Las Vegas, after the wrong contestant was named the victor.

“I have to apologise, the first runner-up is Miss Colombia”, mortified host Steve Harvey said after he realised his mistake.

Steve Harvey had to say that Miss Philippines won Miss Universe after he’d already announced Miss Colombia as the victor (credit: PG / Splash News). “This would never have happened!”

He also took to Twitter after the East Coast broadcast to apologize again.

It was the first edition of the annual beauty show since it was thrust into controversy when then co-owner and US presidential candidate, Donald Trump, made disparaging remarks about immigrants. “The first runner up is Colombia”.

“I wasn’t sure what was going on”, she told ET.

Producers showed them the cards with the winners’ names, but they were still angry. The screw-up happened at an important moment of transition for Miss Universe.

Wurtzbach later said she was happy to win but confused and concerned for her rival.

“Things happen, it’s live television”.

The response on social media was swift and unkind. “It’s very 2015”, she said. The Las Vegas Strip was soon jammed with ambulances and fire trucks, and authorities said at least 30 people were taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries and one person was killed. “Luckily some have the bravery to own it & take a step to correct it. Hugs to #MissUniverse2015 wow”, tweeted Audrey Bolte, who described herself as Miss Ohio USA 2012.

Trump sold the pageant earlier this year to WME/IMG.