Miss Universe Malaysia on National Costume mix-up: 'I am totally fine with it, every girl is a winner'

Miss Universe Malaysia Shweta Sekhon said she is "totally fine" after being mistakenly announced as the winner of the National Costume Competition during the Miss Universe coronation night on Monday.

After the big night, the Miss Universe Twitter page announced that Philippine bet Gazini Ganados is the winner of the National Costume Competition and that host Steve Harvey had it right all along.

On Instagram, Shweta explained what really happened that caused so much confusion.

She said four candidates were briefed to be on standby including her, Gazini, and two other ladies because they were told they were part of the Top 4 of the National Costume.

 

 

 

 

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No words can ever describe how grateful am I to the Lord for this crazy journey of mine at @missuniverse I came across many new faces , made tons of friends , gained many sisters , got so many mothers and most importantly IT WAS CHRISTMAS SEASON YESTERDAY DURING BREAKFAST WHEN I RECEIVED GIFTS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD ! . . . Many has been asking me questions and clarification about the National Costume . Well 4 countries were briefed to be on standby as we were Top 4 for National Costume and Philippines was part of it too . We were told that a picture would be displayed if we made it to top 20 and if we don’t , we would have to put it on . The entire day the crew went on finding my costume as I was told to be the WINNER . That is why I got into the costume too . . . . I am totally fine with it because in my eyes , every girl that came to compete is a winner ! Philippines or Malaysia. , there isn’t any difference because we are O N E ! ?? Congratulations @zozitunzi for the title too ! Truly deserving indeed and I can’t wait to see your journey !!! ?????????? . . Congratulations to the very beautiful @gazinii too ! Love you so much babe ?????? . . . And to my fellow Malaysians , I can’t wait to be back and get to work ! Trust me , this is just the beginning ! I can’t wait to make you all proud ! I AM UNSTOPPABLE ?????????????????? . . . #MissUniverse #MissUniverseMalaysia #MissUniverseMalaysia2019 #RoadToMissUniverse #ShwetaSekhon #BeautyBeyondYou #YourBodyYourSay

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Dec 9, 2019 at 4:15am PST

"We were told that a picture would be displayed if we made it to top 20 and if we don’t, we would have to put it on," she said.

The Malaysian beauty queen said she was told she was the winner, which is the reason why she changed into her costume.

"The entire day the crew went on finding my costume as I was told to be the WINNER . That is why I got into the costume too," she said.

She said she's "totally fine with it because in my eyes, every girl that came to compete is a winner!"

Whether it's Philippines or Malaysia "there isn’t any difference because we are O N E."

Shweta then congratulated Zozibini Tunzi for winning the crown.

"Congratulations @zozitunzi for the title too ! Truly deserving indeed and I can’t wait to see your journey !!!" she said.

Despite the mishap, she also congratulated Gazini for winning Best in National Costume, saying, "Congratulations to the very beautiful @gazinii too ! Love you so much babe."

She also had a message to her fellow Malaysians.

"And to my fellow Malaysians , I can’t wait to be back and get to work ! Trust me , this is just the beginning ! I can’t wait to make you all proud ! I AM UNSTOPPABLE," she said.

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray turned over the crown to Zozibini at the 68th edition of the pageant held in Atlanta.

Philippine bet Gazini ended her Miss Universe 2019 stint as one of the Top 20, after failing to make it to the Top 10.

Zozibini is the third beauty queen from South Africa to win Miss Universe after Demi-Leigh Nel Peters (2017) and Margaret Gardiner (1978).

—Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/JCB, GMA News