“If she plays her cards right” Miss Colombia could become the biggest winner, PR expert says
If ‘she plays her cards right’ following that embarrassing event last night at the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo could end up becoming the biggest winner after all, says a nationally recognized crisis management public relations expert.
At first glance it might appear that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo was the biggest loser from last night’s Miss Universe pageant, after host Steve Harvey announced her the winner, accepting the crown and flowers then only to be told on live television that she did not win, but came in second place.
Not so says Glenn Selig, a crisis management expert.
“What happened to Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo is awful. It was awful to watch and you can only imagine what it must be like for her,” says Selig, who is founder of the crisis public relations firm The Publicity Agency. “She can be bitter, lash out at the host of the Miss Universe pageant and even posture a lawsuit, but if she plays her cards right she could become the biggest winner.”
Miss Universe pageant host announced that he made a mistake after Arevalo received the crown and a bouquet of flowers. He apologized during the live event and later again on Twitter.
I’d like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible. — Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) December 21, 2015
He apparently read the card wrong. A human error, he said.
“Nobody feels worse about this than me,” Harvey said.
But arguably, Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo feels worse. And Selig says, the public feels for her.
“And that’s the point: The public feels horrible for her and if she handles this with grace and some humor, this experience will catapult her to a place of stardom she might never have been able to go if she had simply won,” says Selig. “I guarantee you every top booker in the world wants to interview her. She probably has more requests for interviews than the winner!”
Very sad what happened last night at the Miss Universe Pageant. I sold it 6 months ago for a record price. This would never have happened!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2015
On NBC’s “Today” show, Donald Trump, who sold the pageant six months ago, suggested that Miss Universe make them both winners.
“I’ll tell you what I think I’d do. I think I’d make ’em a co-winner. It’d be very cool,” Trump said.
“I would recommend that they go have a beautiful ceremony, which is good for the brand and good for Miss Universe, and do a co-winner,” he told Matt Lauer.
Selig recommends that Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo not wait for that to happen. He recommends she handle the event with grace and forgiveness. If she does, that is what the public will talk about.
“This is the epitome of making lemonade out of lemons,” says Selig. “And this stunning loss could turn into a big win for her after all.”
SOURCE: The Publicity Agency
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