Consul general expresses concern over Miss Colombia’s mental health after Miss Universe boo-boo
PR expert says first runner-up can leverage embarrassing incident to boost career
Will Miss Colombia 2015 live for the rest of her life haunted by the mistake made by Miss Universe 2015 host Steve Harvey? Or can she benefit from the most unforgettable, yet extremely embarrassing experience of her life on Sunday when she wore the crown just for a few minutes and then it was given to the rightful owner, Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach?
The New York Post reports that after being made to look like a fool in front of hundreds of live audience and millions of TV viewers around the world, Colombians fear that Ariadna Gutierrez could become an emotional wreck. Columbian Consul General to New York Isabel Nieto believes the Latina beauty queen was affected by the emotional roller coaster ride she took and it could “take a little while to recover.”
Blogger Therese Borchard, who writes about stress and anxiety, recalls the best advice she received from a mentor when she wanted to hide in a corner without Wi-Fi and die from embarrassment over a recent incident which Gutierrez could heed. She writes that it’s okay to be embarrassed because “It’s cleansing. This one has already passed, and passed nicely, like a kidney stone after the first day.”
One of her 10 tips how to overcome embarrassment, when teen punks spray painted the words “Dumb-ass blonde” on a red car that she and her twin sister own, was to drive the car around town. She says that embarrassing moments eventually become great cocktail-party material.
Lindsay Carnett, a public relations specialist, says Gutierrez should be thankful for Harvey’s gaffe because his mistake could even become the biggest boost to Miss Colombia’s career. Carnett explains, “The visibility she’s earned in the last 24 hours is invaluable, and it is up to her to leverage it quickly and wisely,” quotes Fox. She believes because Gutierrez’s name is now a byword, she would initially get cameo roles in US TV and emerging brands.
The one who will feel the backlash over the brouhaha is Harvey, points out Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR, whose brand as host would surely suffer. Torossian agrees with Carnett that while Gutierrez may be going through pain and a wide range of emotions now, “many brands … are rooting for her.”
The advice of marketing entrepreneur Jonah Engler to the most famous Miss Universe runner-up is to strike while the iron is hot. She should hire a good marketing company and pursue marketing deals “before she fades into the oblivion and is never remembered again,” which is what victims of embarrassing situations feel.
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