Miss Philippines crowned Miss Universe after live TV mix-up

Miss Colombia was wrongly named Miss Universe in a dramatic mix-up in front of a global television audience of millions on Sunday, before the rightful winner Miss Philippines was finally handed the glittering crown.

The pageant's host, US comedian Steve Harvey, misread his cue card and initially announced Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, had triumphed.

She was fleetingly crowned and congratulated at the ceremony in Las Vegas and started waving to fans. But as she blew kisses to an adoring crowd, Harvey was forced to come clean and announce the real winner.

"OK folks, I have to apologize. The first runner up is Colombia."

"Miss Universe 2015 is Philippines," he added as the music began anew, with the actual winner, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach -- a high-profile actress and television host -- looking stunned and mouthing "what?" 

Harvey attempted to explain the error to a perplexed audience, who greeted the news with both cheers and boos.

"This is exactly what's on the card. I will take responsibility for this. It was my mistake, it was on the card," he said.

"It was my mistake, still a great night," added the talk show host, saying the audience should not "hold it against the ladies".

The glittering crown was then promptly placed on Wurtzbach's head. She later told reporters she wished Miss Colombia the best. 

"I'm very sorry, I did not take the crown from her and I wish her well in whatever she wants to pursue after this pageant," she said.

Photo Caption: Miss Colombia 2015 Ariadna Gutierrez (L) is mistakenly named Miss Universe 2015 instead of first runner-up during the 2015 during the 2015 MISS UNIVERSE show at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, California, on December 20, 2015. AFP