MANILA – “They could have done it another way.” This is what Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez said as she looked back at the controversial mix-up in last year’s Miss Universe pageant, which ended with the crown removed from her on live television.

Host Steve Harvey erroneously declared Gutierrez as Miss Universe 2015. Minutes after the crown was placed on Miss Colombia’s head, Harvey returned on stage to announce that he made a mistake and that Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines – who was initially named first runner-up – is the real winner.

Gutierrez was shown on camera crying on stage, with some of her fellow contestants trying to comfort her.

“I went up to my parents’ room and, obviously, I was very said, I was in bad shape, I was crying. I cried a ton that night,” she said in an interview on the Spanish-language network Univision, which was translated by ABC News.

“In four minutes, they destroy your dreams, they throw it in a bag and they throw it in the trash,” she added. “They could have done it another way… I feel like it doesn’t matter to them the feelings of a girl who has worked her whole life for a dream.”

Speaking on his program, “Steve Harvey Morning Show,” Harvey said he decided to correct his announcement on live television instead of letting the event pass before taking action because it is the right thing to do.

“I did what I was trained to do by my father. I did what I did and be the man I’m supposed to be – you make a mistake, own up to it. I went out there and said I made a mistake. I tried to fix it, I tried to fix it right there,” he said.

“So why would I wait and whine in my head that we got to do something? We got to do it while we’re on TV… I could’ve just stayed back and let them fix it, let them deal with it… but I owned up to my portion of the mistake.”

(READ: Steve Harvey speaks up on Miss Universe gaffe)

Harvey also vehemently denied that his mistake was part of a publicity stunt for Miss Universe, adding that he still feels bad for Miss Colombia.

“The only regret that I have is how this must have made the woman from Colombia feel. That’s my only regret. I don’t feel sorry for me… I don’t feel sorry for the pageant… My only regret is how this woman must have felt, and none of us know what that is. I felt for her more than me.

“I mean, look, I’m just a man here, I haven’t been waiting all my life for this moment. So I felt for that. But at the same time, how can I not let Miss Philippines, who actually won the event [be crowned]? She got the most points. She’s the real winner,” he said.

In an interview on “Good Morning America,” Wurtzbach said she understands how Gutierrez feels, but said that she does not agree with sharing the Miss Universe crown -- an idea that some people suggested following the mix-up.

“I think it would be a little bit difficult for two girls to share a crown. But I have high hopes that this will give great opportunities for me and Miss Colombia and the rest of the contestants,” she said.