Miss Malaysia full of grace

Show of support: Vanessa (fourth from left) congratulating Wurtzbach after she was crowned Miss Universe at the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant in Las Vegas. — Reuters

PETALING JAYA: While the focus was on this year’s Miss Universe, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines, who was nearly “denied” her title by blundering host Steve Harvey, Malaysian finalist Vanessa Tevi Kumares was applauded for her gracious support for the stunned winner.

As other contestants were more occupied with consoling Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutier­rez, who had been mistakenly declared the winner by Harvey at the final in Las Vegas on Sunday, Vanessa was one of the first to approach Wurtzbach after the gaffe was corrected by Harvey.