Dannyka Manangan

Steve Byrne on hosting Miss Universe 2025: 'I thought Miss Côte d'Ivoire was going to win'

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>Steve Byrne addressed the surge of online messages he received after hosting the 74th Miss Universe coronation. As he talked about the speculations about how he read the results, Steve admitted that he had personally expected Miss Côte d’Ivoire to win.  </p><p>In an Instagram video posted before he left Bangkok, on November 22, Steve began by acknowledging the volume of questions and assumptions sent his way. “I just want to address some of the crazy DMs, comments, and messages I’ve gotten pertaining to hosting Miss Universe 2025,” he said.  </p><p>He denied claims circulating online that he had misread or reversed the order of the results. &quot;No, I didn&#x27;t read the list upside down. I didn&#x27;t read it backwards. I definitely didn’t make up my own winners. I wouldn&#x27;t even know how to judge the criteria,&quot; he explained.  </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRUeQvckYPk/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A55738.600000000006%2C%22ls%22%3A55033.20000000001%2C%22le%22%3A55043.30000000002%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>He added that the director and the pageant officials would have immediately corrected him and “probably stormed the stage” if he made a mistake.  </p><p>He also clarified that although Miss Mexico emerged as Miss Universe 2025, he personally thought another finalist would take the crown. &quot;All that said, you know, congratulations to Miss Mexico. I&#x27;ll be honest, while I was watching everything unfold, especially in the final 5, I thought Miss Côte d&#x27;Ivoire was going to win. That’s [who] I thought was going to win. But Miss Mexico won so congratulations to her.&quot;  </p><p>Following his post, Miss Côte d&#x27;Ivoire Olivia Yacé commented on his post to share a moment they once shared during the pageant.</p><p>“Don’t read the wrong name ” was the last thing I said to you on stage ONE JOB STEVE (haha it’s a joke) But all jokes aside, I’m happy to say you were an amazing host and we all had a lot of fun with you at rehearsals. It was a pleasure meeting you 🙏🏿❤️,” Olivia wrote.  </p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRW7EP7ESVd/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A139145.00000000003%2C%22ls%22%3A55033.20000000001%2C%22le%22%3A55043.30000000002%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/11/21/meet-miss-universe-2025-fatima-bosch-1713"><strong>READ: Meet Miss Universe 2025 Fatima Bosch</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Steve also addressed one of the most talked-about moments of the broadcast, his unexpected catwalk. He explained that it was not planned but was done to fill airtime.</p><p>&quot;So, I was told the final 12, the list was ready, and we&#x27;re going to air soon. The director told me, &#x27;You need to kill time. You need to stretch.&#x27; And I thought, &#x27;How much time is it?’” he recalled. “And I didn&#x27;t know how long I had. So, I literally said, &#x27;Okay.&#x27; So, all the women did their catwalk, and I did the catwalk. So that’s why I did that.”  </p><p>Afterward, once the list was finalized, he rushed across the stage to retrieve and read the Top 12 results.</p><p>With speculation continuing online, Steve stressed that he handled the results carefully, aware of past live television mistake on the Miss Universe 2015 with Steve Harvey calling Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as Miss Universe, only to return on stage to say that Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach was the real titleholder.</p><p>“It was an honor and a privilege to get do it. And no, I didn&#x27;t make up my own list. I didn&#x27;t read it backwards. After the incident with Steve Harvey, I knew how much pressure was on me to get it right. So, I hope I did a great job. I had a wonderful time doing it. It was an honor and a privilege and a thrill to do it,&quot; he also said.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/11/21/celebrities-and-content-creators-have-mixed-reactions-as-ahtisa-manalo-places-3rd-runner-up-2151"><strong>READ: Celebrities and content creators have mixed reactions as Ahtisa Manalo places 3rd runner-up in Miss Universe 2025</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>He also shared that meeting all 120 contestants was one of the highlights of his hosting experience. “They were all fantastic, they were so gracious, they exemplified such poise,” he said, joking that another highlight was, “No twerking.”</p><p>Amid heavy speculation, Steve had earlier posted a selfie with the results card to further assure viewers that the list had been read correctly. </p><p>“It was an honor to host @missuniverse 2025. What an amazing experience. Bangkok Thailand is such an amazing city! The food, the friendliness of all I’ve encountered, I can’t wait to come back. It was a true privilege sharing the stage w 120 of the most beautiful women in the world. Thanks for having me!” he wrote in his caption.  </p>

<p>Steve Byrne addresses the messages and comments he received online following his hosting of the 74th Miss Universe competition.</p>

Steve Byrne addresses the messages and comments he received online following his hosting of the 74th Miss Universe competition.