Zeenat Aman and other former Miss India react to Miss Universe goof-up

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.

Zeenat Aman:  It’s a huge mistake. I am sure it must have been a big disappointment for Miss Colombia. But mistakes happen. It’s a human error.

Dino Morea: Whatever happened was really bad. It shouldn’t have happened. I am amazed it happened.

Satarupa Pyne (Actress and former Miss India finalist) : It was shocking. Something definitely went wrong. Had I been Miss Colombia, I would have wanted a full clarification on what exactly went wrong. And only after having been proved that it was a definite human error would I have conceded and granted my crown.

Pooja Chopra (Actress, Former Miss India): My heart went out for Miss Colombia. It was dream shattering moment. The toughest thing was it was being beamed live and the entire world was watching. I just wish the organisers should have been more sensitive with the way it was handled. Mistakes happen but the way it is handled makes the difference.

Marc Robinson (Fashion Choreographer): I was watching it live and was shocked and appalled how such a thing could happen at international level. I was watching it live and I just couldn’t believe that the emcee got it wrong. These are international pageants and you just cant get it wrong.

Purva Rana (Former Miss India): Whatever happened was really unfair. I don’t know how such a thing could happen. Even if the emcee got it wrong, the organsiers and judges should have corrected it immediately. They should not have taken so long to correct themselves. Looks dicey to me.

Pranati Rai Prakash (Ex Miss India contestant) : Error is human and mistakes happen. It does get embarrassing at such times and the enterprise (Miss Universe) gets affected. But Miss Colombia handled it with a lot of grace.

Pooja Bhamrah (Actor, Model): I was stumped to see such a thing happen. These are international pageants and there are no rooms for such errors. You genuinely feel bad for Miss Colombia.

Sangya Lakhanpal (Actor, Model): It seemed extremely odd at the moment when Steve Harley corrected himself on stage after the crowning especially, after he showed the cue card to the cameras which clearly mentions the winners and their winning positions. In retrospect and after reading his apologies I feel it could have just been a simple human error.

Niharika Singh (Actor, Former Miss India): This is certainly a first. But I would say I am happy it happened because even Miss Colombia could enjoy the feeling of being Miss Universe even though it was short-lived. (Wiith AP Inputs)