While the new Miss Universe 2015 may be Philippines’ Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, according to the Internet, the real one is Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez. And no, it’s not because announcer Steve Harvey mistakenly gave her the crowning glory for three seconds. It’s only because she rose to the occasion and brushed off the embarrassment, like a star. Like fame, gaffes are a part of stardom and this year, some superstars showed us how to sweep them under the carpet on which they walk.
While Gutierrez’s ‘Everything happens for a reason’ still rings loud and clear, 2015 was a year of grave boo-boos. Madonna tripped on her cape and fell down a flight of stairs spawning a million memes. The singer took them all in stride. “Armani hooked me up! My beautiful cape was tied too tight!” she explained. “But nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up! Thanks for your good wishes! I’m fine!” she said, humbly reminding the world that not everybody can be hooked up by Armani. Despite looking refreshing on the red carpet, Jennifer Lawrence has gained somewhat of a reputation for tripping on it and then of course, joking about it. Enrique Iglesias took brushing it off to another level when he battled a drone, cut his fingers, continued to perform for another 30 minutes before being air-lifted to the hospital. A year after Grease star John Travolta got Idina Menzel’s name wrong, he decided to make amends by stroking her face, of course, after awkwardly kissing Scarlett Johansson first.
“When celebrities laugh at themselves, it not only reminds their fans why they love them, but it also shows them that they are every bit as human too,” says Miss India East 2010, Rohini Mukherjee. Even as the Miss India finalist takes to her social media to empathise with Miss Colombia she says, “The end of the pageant doesn’t mean the end of you and Gutierrez showed that beautifully. Although grooming may have been a part of how she handled it all, not everything can be taught and her personality shone through. She continues to inspire and takes the crown doing it,” she adds.
