Olivia Culpo reacts to Miss U memes: 'I don't think I have ever concentrated so hard on reading in my life'
Olivia Culpo knows that you’ve been making memes about her meme-worthy facial expressions during her hosting stint at the 69th Miss Universe pageant earlier this week—and she has a few things to say about it.
Culpo gained the internet’s attention on Sunday, May 16 (May 17, Philippine time) after her supposed “low energy” hosting of the 69th Miss Universe live show, a job he shared with actor-TV host Mario Lopez.
Fans also took notice of how Culpo seemed surprised or unhappy—depending on who you ask—while reading the pageant’s results. Her facial expression while reading a cue card for the show has resulted in several memes and results during the pageant day.
The 2012 Miss Universe titleholder took to her Instagram account on Wednesday, May 19 (Philippine time) to explain why her face looked the way it did in the memes.
According to Culpo, she was concentrating on reading the results because she was “terrified of reading the wrong country.”
“I don't think I have ever concentrated so hard on reading in my life than when announcing the winner of Miss Universe this weekend,” she wrote in an Instagram story. “I was sooo terrified of reading the wrong country.”
Culpo added: “Apparently I need to work on my reading face and I'm sorry if this was misinterpreted in any way.”
“I swear I'm just concentrating on the words. Every girl was beautiful and most importantly so sweet and kind.”
She also poked fun at herself by creating memes of her own viral Miss Universe photo.
The need for extreme concentration while reading the results of the Miss Universe pageant is understandable. After all, Steve Harvey’s mistake of reading the wrong winner during the 2015 Miss Universe continues to live in pageant infamy to this day.
Despite the memes, the 29-year-old former beauty queen and model did not make any mistakes during her Miss Universe gig (disregarding the criticism she got online for her “low energy” hosting), so all’s well that ends well!
Banner photo by Miss Universe Organization/Benjamin Askinas