Huge blunder at Miss Universe sees wrong contestant crowned; Miss Philippines is eventual winner

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Oh dear. Former pageant winner Paulina Vega (centre) removes the Miss Universe crown from Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez (left), before giving it to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (right). Photo: AP

Published: 12:00pm, 21 Dec 2015Updated: 1:21pm, 21 Dec 2015

The Miss Universe contestant from the Philippines is this year’s winner 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 apologise.

Watch this awkward crowning moment:

Harvey says it was his mistake and that he would take responsibility for not correctly reading the card that named the Philippines’ contestant Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach this year’s winner and Miss 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.

That’s more like it. Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (right), is finally and correctly crowned 2015 Miss Universe. Photo: AFP

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.