Ariadna Gutierrez says she never regarded Pia Wurtzbach as a contender to the crown
In December 2015, Philippine-bet Pia Wurtzbach made history in the Miss Universe pageant.
It can be recalled that Pia was crowned in a very controversial manner after American host Steve Harvey initially announced Colombia's Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner.
A few minutes later, Steve returned to the stage to apologize and said it was actually Pia who won.
Now, five years later, the issue between the two former beauty queens resurfaced after the first runner-up was quoted saying that she never considered Pia as a contender for the title.
“I actually saw her twice during the competition, once at the dining area and during rehearsals. But she is like a ghost. You see her and never again… Nobody saw her,” said Ariadna on a Facebook interview by Miss Universe 2017 First Runner-up Laura Barjum of Colombia.
“I used to go to with the Latinas and we sat next to the Asians and I did not notice her. She was very solitary too.
“I did not notice her and when I did, I didn't think she was competent.
"She was rarely mingling with the other girls and I couldn't see her qualities until finals.
“I didn't think she was going to win.”
Similar to how she encouraged Pia Wurtzbach to take her crown in 2015, former Miss Bulgaria Radostina Todorova called out Ariadna for looking down on the other contestants.
“Of course you didn't see her!” she said, as quoted by several pageant and entertainment websites.
“I remember you were always laughing at us, at our clothes and pieces of jewelry, at our walks and talks… you were only with the other Latinas looking down on us!
"I stand behind my words and that's why we are all happy that Pia won.
“You need to be beautiful inside and out, not only looking like a Victoria Secret model and acting like the queen of England. You will never be unless you start acting like a decent human being.”
Radostina clarified her statement on her own Instagram account and said that she still couldn't believe that the issue stands after five years.
“I don't mean to offend anyone. But after 5 years still commenting on the winner this way... as if she was nobody?! A 'ghost?'
“I mean, to be a beautiful person is something you don't do at the aesthetician's cabinet, it's something you accomplish at school and in your community.
“I remember all of the beautiful women at the pageant and I believe everybody will remember Miss Universe 2015.
"I remember all of the beautiful women as we became friends and not just opponents because we were speaking, smiling, and helping each other feel good about ourselves! We were there to embrace beauty--true beauty.
“It has nothing to do with how you look but how you make people feel around you! That's the beauty of being a queen. Remember it because everybody can be a true queen. It's not the crown, it's your heart.”
As of this writing, Pia remains mum about the issue.