Steve Harvey declares wrong contestant as Miss Universe 2015

Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez (L) stands by as Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega (C) transfers the crown to victor Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach during the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, December 20, 2015.

He announced the wrong lady as victor.

The controversy surrounding the pageant is yet to settle down, with Miss Germany Sarah-Lorraine Riek slamming the result. “But as Miss Columbia was very conservative and also respectful, I would have done as she did”, Miss Santa Barbara County Arianna Lemus said. Netizens took the situation in humor while others berated Harvey; there were those who sympathized with Miss Colombia; and many Filipinos expressed their pride in Wurtzbach.

Ariadna remained poised and professional as she had the crown removed from her head and given to Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines, and she later tried to remain positive about the huge embarrassment.

“The prompter said ‘Miss Universe – Colombia, ‘” Harvey told a producer in the seven-second video which has since been deleted.

Adding insult to injury, in one of Harvey’s many online apologies, he misspelled the name of the country. “It was a letdown when the host said he made a mistake”. I’m so happy. Thank you for all.

Meanwhile, the real victor, Pia Wurtzbach has called her winning “very non-traditional crowning moment” and said that the awkward incident is “Very 2015!”

Two minutes later, the comedian who hosts his own daytime talk show as well as the game show “Family Feud” returned, saying “let me just take control of this”. For me, Miss Colombia is Miss Universe and will continue to be Miss Universe. “I didn’t expect that to happen at all”.

Mr Trump now says he thinks they should share the crown.

Ariadna was briefly crowned and started the customary smiling and waving to cheering crowds before organisers revealed she was actually the first runner-up.