Fox Miss Universe host names Miss Colombia the winner of Miss Universe, before backtracking and naming Miss Philippines as the winner. Courtesy: Miss Universe Fox

IN one of the most unexpected endings to a Miss Universe final, Miss Colombia was mistakenly crowned as the winner. The host had accidentally read out the wrong name.

His mistake meant one of the world’s most watched beauty pageants ended in shock and tears as Miss Colombia was demoted to being the first runner-up, and Miss Philippines was declared the official winner.

For around 90 seconds, Miss Columbia Ariadna Gutierrez was crowned the winner and had been given her flowers. She was basking in her moment of glory on stage.

She was then forced to give up her crown to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

The ending left viewers on the edge of their seats.

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Miss Colombia was blowing kisses when host Steve Harvey awkwardly interrupted to say: “I have to apologise. The first runner up is Colombia.”

“Miss Universe 2015 is Philippines,” he added, with the Colombian contestant left like a deer in headlights and the actual winner, Ms Wurtzbach, looking stunned.

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Miss Colombia was then stripped of the crown, and was forced to look on as it went to Miss Philippines.

Miss Colombia looked visibly upset by the incident after it unfolded on live television.

Backstage, Miss Philippines described the ending as a “very non-traditional crowning” in a video posted by the Miss Universe Organisation on Facebook.

The road to the Miss Universe crown is never easy. A message from Miss Universe 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. Posted by Miss Universe on Sunday, December 20, 2015

In another message on the Miss Universe Facebook page, Miss Colombia said she was still “happy” while wiping away tears with a tissue.

“Everything happens for a reason ... I’m so happy, thankyou for voting for me,” she said.

A message from Miss Universe Colombia. Posted by Miss Universe on Sunday, December 20, 2015

Footage of the mistake has gone viral on social media, sending fans into a spin as they vent their anger over host Steve Harvey’s error in reading out the wrong name on his card.

He apologised on stage and took full responsibility for it.

“It was my fault,” Harvey stammered as a perplexed audience held its breath.

“Please don’t hold it against the ladies,” added the talk show host.

The contest is wildly popular in Latin America and much of Asia.

Harvey later apologised for the error on Twitter, but copped more criticism when he misspelt their countries of origin. He wrote Colombia as “Columbia” and the Philippines as the “Philippians”.

The Miss Universe Organisation has also issued a public apology, saying that “a live telecast means that human error can come into play”.

“We witnessed that tonight when the wrong winner was initially announced. Our sincerest apologies to Miss Universe Colombia, Miss Universe Philippines, their families and fans. We congratulate Miss Universe Philippines as Miss Universe 2015.”

The beauty pageant controversy comes after Australia just missed out on taking out the crown at the Miss Universe final in Las Vegas today.

Miss Australia Monika Radulovic made the final five after she unveiled her Dame Edna-inspired national costume, and impressed judges and social media viewers early on.

She lost out to Miss Colombia, Miss Philippines and Miss USA who all made the final three after the hotly-contested question round, where she was asked about legalising medicinal marijuana in Australia.

She said that legalisation has been proven to be beneficial in helping people in certain circumstances, but “the government should weigh up both sides”.

Boasting an honours degree in psychology and a desire to tackle major political issues, she said she wouldn’t be sticking to the usual pageant queen script.

“I’m going to be myself,” the 24-year-old said.

Her parents, Goran and Vinka, came to Australia as refugees from war-torn Bosnia in 1994 when she was four years old.

She also impressed onlookers in the swimsuit and evening wear sections of the competition, before she secured a spot in the final part of the pageant.

This year’s pageant went ahead without Donald Trump due to his controversial comments about immigrants.

The pageant that pits international beauties against one another returned on a new network, with a new Spanish-language broadcaster and a new pageant owner.

The women, between ages 19 and 27, represent 83 countries. For the first time, viewers at home got to weigh in, with their votes being tallied in addition to four in-person celebrity judges.

NBCUniversal and Trump co-owned the Miss Universe Organisation until earlier this year.

The billionaire offended Hispanics in June when he made anti-immigrant remarks in announcing his Republican presidential run.

That led Spanish-language network Univision to pull out of the broadcast for what would have been the first of five years airing the pageants and NBC to cut business ties with Trump.

The former star of the Celebrity Apprentice reality TV show sued both companies, settling with NBC in September, which included buying the network’s stake in the pageants.

That same month, Trump sold the organisation that includes the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants to entertainment company WME-IMG.

See how the pageant unfolded below:

1.55pm AEDT:

The second runner-up is the USA.

The winner is Miss Colombia! No hang on, she’s the first runner-up. The real winner was Miss Philippines.

1.31pm AEDT:

The final challenge is here.

Miss USA was first asked why she should be the next Miss Universe. She said she wants to “empower women all over the world” and “inspire people to believe in themselves”.

Miss Colombia said she should be the third Miss Universe because she has” all the attributes that a Latin woman has, a woman that is full of feeling, and a Miss Universe should have for all of her events”.

Miss Philippines was asked what she thinks it takes to be Miss Universe. She said she would “raise awareness to causes like the spread of HIV”, and she wants to show the world she is “confidently beautiful with a heart”.

1.21pm AEDT:

The Top three is here! And they are:

1. USA

2. Colombia

3. Philippines

Unfortunately Australia did not make it. Booo!

1.11pm AEDT:

The question round is finally here! Contestants get one question and have one shot at answering them. Miss Australia got a question on legalising medicinal marijuana in Australia. She said that legalisation has been proven to be beneficial in helping people in certain circumstances, but “the government should weigh up both sides”. Miss France was asked about how to combat terrorism in the wake of the Paris attacks. She said they have to “listen to the people committing these attacks... and find the problem at its heart”.

Miss Colombia was asked about ways to handle drug abuse, to which she said education was the key. Miss USA nearly ran out of time when asked for her view on gun control. She said that she thought the US needed “stronger regulations”. Miss Philippines was asked about the US military entering her country and she said her country should be welcoming.

12.56pm AEDT:

The final five contestants are being revealed. And the finalists are:

1. France

2. Colombia

3. Philippines

4. AUSTRALIA

5. USA

Aussie Aussie Aussie!!!!

12.40pm AEDT:

The evening wear section is under way. Votes here will impact on who makes the Top 5. Gold and white were Miss USA looked like she was wearing a wedding gown with a white dress and a cape on the back. Miss Thailand wore a white dress too with a similar style. Miss Australia rocked it in gold with a thigh split dress. Miss France looked demure in her strapless red gown.

There was also a lot of Twitter support for Miss Philippines in her electric blue gown.

12.25pm AEDT:

The final 10 contestants is being announced. And the finalists are:

1. USA

2. Colombia

3. Japan

4. Thailand

5. Australia

6. Dominican Republic

7. Curaco

8. France

9. Philippines

10. Venezuela

11.58am AEDT:

Next up is the swimsuit competition. The votes placed here will determine who goes into the Top 10.

11.56am AEDT:

The Miss Universe site has OFFICIALLY CRASHED, due to the number of people voting across the world. But viewers who got to log on voted for Thailand’s national costume as their clear favourite. Her costume involved her wearing the cut-out of a Tuk Tuk on her back.

Congratulations to the #MissUniverse National Costume Competition winner, Miss Universe Thailand. pic.twitter.com/Cubgi5TBKG — Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 21, 2015

11.24am AEDT:

The Miss Universe 2015 Top 15 is being revealed. And the finalists are:

1. Brazil

2. Australia

3. Indonesia

4. Dominican Republic

5. Philippines

6. France

7. USA

8. Curaco

9. Belgium

10. Japan

11. Venezuela

12. South Africa

13. Colombia

14. Mexico

15. Thailand

Backstage, Ms Radulovic said she was excited to be in the final. When asked what the secret was to Australia getting into the finals seven years in a row, she said: “Our country’s amazing. I want to do them proud.”

11am AEDT:

The pageant is under way and contestants are unveiling their national costumes. Viewers will get the chance to vote online for their favourite outfit later in the show.

10.57am AEDT:

The crowd and this year’s judges are ready to rock and roll.

The crowd is ready to rock! 10 minutes until #MissUniverse 2015. pic.twitter.com/HhTj2i6XpP — Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 20, 2015

9.30am AEDT:

Pageant contestants are getting ready for the hairspray, fake tan-filled finale!