Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez Speaks Out Following Miss Universe Crowning Mistake
"In the future we will find out why things happen," she wrote.
— -- Following Sunday night's crowning mistake at the Miss Universe pageant, Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez posted a long message on Instagram about being "able to bring happiness to my country after becoming Miss Universe for only a couple of minutes."
Host Steve Harvey announced Gutierrez as the winner by mistake, but came back out on stage to reveal that Miss Philippines had actually won and Colombia was first runner-up.
"After the storm comes the calm. I want to thank each and everyone of you who have sent messages of support and strength," Gutierrez wrote next to a picture from the pageant. "Every one of you has become an incredible human being in my book and I am the most fortunate and thankful for having the support not only from one country but from the whole entire world. Your destiny is written for you. And my destiny was this."
Gutierrez, 21, said that even though she only wore the crown for a few minutes, "I was able to bring happiness to my country."
"Today because of that COLOMBIA and the LATIN COMMUNITY are being talked about in every corner of the world. I also want to congratulate the Philippines for their new Miss Universe," she continued. "Life continues and in the future we will find out why things happen the way they happen. Thank you all for your LOVE SUPPORT and KINDNESS."
After the error, Harvey tweeted, "I'd like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible."
The pageant itself weighed in with its own apology.