LAS VEGAS (AP) — The latest from the Miss Universe beauty pageant (all times local):
8:30 p.m.
The newly crowned Miss Universe from the Philippines is apologizing on behalf of the Miss Universe organization for the mistake that led a contestant from Colombia to first believe that she had won the crown.
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach told reporters after the Miss Universe pageant that she had conflicting emotions when the mistake happened: joy when she was told she was indeed the winner and not first runner-up, concern for Colombia contestant Ariadna Gutierrez Aravelo, who had previously been mistakenly crowned, and confusion at the whole situation.
Wurtzbach says she tried to approach Aravelo onstage afterward but the Colombian was crying and surrounded by a crowd of women. She says she realized it was, “probably bad timing.”
Saying she’s now the voice of Miss Universe she apologized for what happened on behalf of the organization.
She says the mistake wasn’t done purposely and “it was an honest mistake.”
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7:55 p.m.
Miss Universe host Steve Harvey says no one feels worse than he does about his mistake awarding Colombia the crown before Miss Universe.
Harvey spoke to reporters assembled at the Planet Hollywood hotel-casino where the pageant concluded with him awarding the crown to the wrong person.
Mark Shapiro of the pageant’s new owner, WME ’ IMG, says Harvey corrected the mistake on his own when he realized the error on air.
Both say it was human error.
The beauty pageant ended Sunday night with the contestant from Colombia having the crown removed from her head and placed on the contestant from the Philippines after Harvey mistakenly read that she had won when really she was the first runner-up.
Harvey says he hasn’t spoken with Miss Colombia.
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7:05 p.m.
The Miss Universe contestant from the Philippines is this year’s winner but for one brief moment, 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 apologize.
Harvey says it was his mistake and that he would take responsibility for not reading the card correctly that named contestant Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach this year’s winner and 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.
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6:25 p.m.
It’s the United States, Colombia and Philippines left vying for the Miss Universe crown of diamonds and blue topaz.
The final three contestants have outlasted the 77 other women since the start of the competition. They’ve worn costumes, swimsuits and evening gowns and have moved on after a question and answer round that addressed gun control, terrorism and marijuana legalization.
Asked about gun control in the United States following the shootings in San Bernardino and Sandy Hook, Miss USA Olivia Jordan says it’s important that people have the right to protect themselves but says “we need to look at the safety of the whole” including stronger regulations.
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6:05 p.m.
The final five contestants vying for the Miss Universe crown represent the United States, France, Colombia, Philippines and Australia.
The elimination followed the pageant’s evening gown competition that included a bit of an onstage stumble by Australian contestant Monika Radulovic wearing a long-sleeve, floor-length dress covered in gold sequins.
Viewers voting at home say Philippines contestant Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach wore her bright blue evening gown with a chevron pattern on the back, the best.
Contestants from Japan, Thailand, the Dominican Republic, Curacao and Venezuela aren’t moving on to the question round.
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5:45 p.m.
Miss Universe judge and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton gets more cheers than a beauty queen wearing a bikini telling viewers watching the event at home that “thankfully Donald Trump no longer owns this pageant.”
Perez was asked by co-host Roselyn Sanchez what was different about this year’s contest.
Trump sold the pageant in September after facing a backlash earlier this year for controversial comments about Mexican immigrants as he launched his Republican presidential campaign.
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