Miss Universe: I'm Not Sharing the Crown, Thanks

Pia Wurtzbach talks to 'Good Morning America'
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 4, 2016 10:46 AM CST
Miss Universe: I'm Not Sharing the Crown, Thanks
Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, right, reacts with former Miss Universe Paulina Vega as she was announced as the new Miss Universe at the Miss Universe pageant on Dec. 20, 2015, in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo/John Locher)

Pia Wurtzbach gave her first sit-down as Miss Universe to Good Morning America on Monday, and she graciously pooh-poohed the idea that's been making the rounds that she should perhaps share the crown with runner-up, Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, who was briefly and incorrectly crowned Miss Universe. "I think it would be a little bit difficult for two girls to share a crown, but I have high hopes that this will give great opportunities for me and Miss Colombia and the rest of the contestants," Wurtzbach, of the Philippines, said. Per GMA, Gutierrez disagrees, recently telling a Colombian radio station she thinks the crown should be shared and adding that the incident was "very humiliating" and "a great injustice."

As for Wurtzbach, she was also gracious on the subject of pageant host Steve Harvey, who was responsible for the mix-up. "Maybe the way it was written, it was a little confusing," she said. "I understand. It was his first time to judge a pageant, but it's OK. He's human. People make mistakes." Should he return as host? "Yeah, why not?" she said. "I think he’s a breath of fresh air, he made us feel very relaxed, the contestants. It makes us show our personalities a little bit more. I think that benefits everybody, especially the viewers." (Miss Colombia was a bit less angry-sounding in her first response to the incident.)

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