Sofia Vergara Consoles Miss Colombia After Miss Universe Controversy

The pageant host, United States comedian Steve Harvey, announced that Miss Colombia Adriana won the coveted crown, but moments later corrected his mistake, giving the title to Miss Philippines, Xinhua reported.

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. Misreading the finalists, Harvey said Miss Colombia was the victor, but she was actually the first runner-up and Miss Philippines was the real victor.

Everyone inside the venue was astonished, especially Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, who was initially declared as the first runner up.

Harvey explained on air that he misread the card he was given with the names of the winners. She had already been crowned by the previous year's Miss Universe, also from Colombia, when Harvey returned to the stage to apologize. Then she walked out to the front of the stage and waited for Gutierrez to hand over the crown.

He held up the card for Fox network cameras to see up close.

Harvey tweeted, "I don't want to take away from this awesome night and pageant". The previous Miss Universe on NBC, in January, reached 7.7 million people. "This would never have happened!" he wrote.

"Everything happens for a reason", she said. Among them is Miss Germany Sarah-Lorraine Riek and, according to her, other contestants in the pageant.

• Takeover Battle for Pep Boys Continues; Icahn Sweetens Offer and Bridgestone

• Bundy says protesters want local land control

• Brendon McCullum ruled out of New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 5th ODI