Newly crowned Miss Universe Pia Alonzo was in the spirit on Christmas, standing in front of the famous tree at Rockefeller Plaza before writing an Instagram post that spread both cheer and a little jeer.
In her post, Alonzo, who was initially announced as runner-up before Steve Harvey reversed course and correctly named her Miss Universe, wrote about how grateful she was to win the prestigious honor.
But she also had a message for battling fans who’ve been going at it for days over the debacle that originally named Colombian beauty Ariadna Gutierrez Miss Universe.
“And to all the fans who are still fighting about this…Please let’s all stop now,” she wrote on Instagram. “The Miss Universe Organization is about uniting empowered women from all over the world.”
Alonzo urged fan to stop engaging in hateful exchanges over who really won.
“Arguing and sending hateful messages to each other defeats the whole purpose. You believe in the message of Miss Universe and so do I.”
She also had words of praise for Miss Colombia, calling her an “amazing woman” with great things ahead of her.
To Ariadna, you are an amazing woman and we are now bonded together forever by a unique experience. In the last 3 weeks we were together, I saw how strong and beautiful you are inside and out. You represented your country with honor and I know how proud everyone must be of you. Fate has a plan for you, and I’m excited to see what’s ahead.