Miss Universe

The former Miss Honduras is gearing up for a legal fight against the guy who just stripped her of her crown, claiming he got pissed because she chose charity work over paid gigs.

We've learned Sirey Moran just hired famed attorney Joe Tacopina, who's repped A-Rod, among many others. Tacopina tells us his client did NOTHING to warrant punishment. Her contract requires that she get permission to do events with her sash and crown, but the events in question were all for charity and she wore none of the trappings of a beauty queen.

Tacopina believes the real reason Sirey was fired was because she was spending time doing charity work for free, and the guy who runs the pageant wanted her to appear only when she got paid, so his company could get a piece of the action.

As for Tacopina's next move ... we're told he's going straight to the top ... Miss Universe. He's been in touch with pageant officials and is asking them to pressure the honchos over at Miss Honduras to reinstate Sirey.

Failing that, Tacopina's ready to take legal action, possibly in Honduras. He feels the case is "a slam dunk."

Sirey's end game is Miss Universe, because that's a true world stage, and she feels she's been robbed of the chance of a lifetime.

For those of you who got annoyed by Miss Colombia telling everyone she was robbed at the Miss Universe pageant, check out the winner, because she's blazing hot.

Pia Wurtzbach from the Philippines was out and about Saturday at NYC's Fashion Week.

Steve Harvey sobbed openly when he finally got his face-to-face with Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez ... and then she gave him some really good news.

Ariadna and Steve sat down on his talk show -- their first meeting since the infamous Miss Universe screw up -- and he immediately got emotional. Check out the clip ... they talked forgiveness and possible lawsuits. Yes, Ariadna says she came close to taking his mansion.

TMZ broke the story ... Harvey scored the interview with Miss Colombia when an NBC producer brokered a blanket deal for "Today," Telemundo, and Steve's show.

As for his tears ... we're not saying he wasn't genuine, but Steve's an old pro -- he knows tears equal ratings.

Steve Harvey has done an interview with Miss Colombia, begging forgiveness ... and we've learned the waterworks were turned on in a big, big way -- and we're not talking her.

Our sources say ... an NBC producer brokered the deal in which Ariadna Gutierrez appeared on Harvey's talk show and did a segment for "Today," as well as Telemundo ... all NBC-owned properties.

Our sources say Harvey told Ariadna he's apologized to everyone, but a face-to-face with her was the most meaningful. "He sobbed and sobbed," our sources say.

Harvey also had the winner, Miss Philippines, on the show but we're told she was never on the same stage as Ariadna.

Right after Steve's show, filmed in Chicago, Natalie Morales from "Today," interviewed Ariadna, followed by an anchor from Telemundo.

Today, Ariadna is shooting a cover for People Espanol.

As one source said, "Ariadna thought having the crown taken away was the worst day of her life. She now realizes it was the best day," adding, 'She's making a fortune!"

Miss Colombia may have lost her crown, but companies pitching burgers and beers want to re-crown her and make her super famous and wealthy.

Sources connected with the scorned Miss Universe contestant tell TMZ, a high-powered manager -- who reps Sofia Vergara -- is working on her behalf and is in talks with Burger King for a fantastic commercial. Miss Colombia would star in a kids' meal spot where everyone keeps their crown.

And we're told the manager -- Luis Balaguer -- is also talking to Corona about a commercial featuring Ariadna Gutierrez on the beach with a cold one. The hook -- "corona" is "crown" in Spanish.

And there's more ... we're told Ariadna's dream is to become a Victoria's Secret angel, and our sources say Balaguer was in touch with the company on Tuesday.

BTW ... we're told Ariadna was enraged at both the Miss Universe pageant and Steve Harvey after the screw-up and hasn't returned a single call to either. Fact is, it's the best thing that could have happened to her.

Miss Colombia could become the biggest thing in beauty pageants since Vanessa Williams ... if a porn king has his way.

Vivid honcho Steve Hirsch

to Ariadna Gutierrez Tuesday offering up $1 million. He made his case with another famous pageant queen, writing, "The only name that most people remember is Vanessa Williams," adding the reason for her rise to fame was nude pics in Penthouse.

Hirsch goes on with his pitch ... "Celebrity sex tapes we have distributed have enhanced the careers of stars such as Kim Kardashian, Kendra Wilkinson, Pamela Anderson and many others."

And Hirsch is willing to give Ariadna wide berth, saying, "You will pick your partners, the type of sex you want to have and how many movies you ultimately appear in."

Miss Universe now has a raging war on its hands ... between Latina contestants and Miss Philippines.

Sources who were backstage at Sunday's pageant tell TMZ, after Steve Harvey throned and quickly de-throned Miss Colombia ... Miss Puerto Rico, Miss Costa Rica, Miss Mexico and other Latina contestants swarmed Miss Colombia to console her.

The women were NOT blaming Steve Harvey, whom they said was gracious. They were squarely and tearfully blaming Miss Philippines for the embarrassment, although no one could coherently explain why the snafu was her fault.

Some of the Latina contestants were grousing backstage ... Miss Philippines did not deserve the crown. We're told most of them snubbed the winner, not congratulating her on the victory.

We're told there has been a fierce competition between Colombia and the Philippines in the pageant's history, and it certainly reared its head Sunday night.

Shanna Moakler, a former Miss USA and pageant honcho, told us on "TMZ Live" Monday the competition between Colombia and the Philippines is extremely fierce.

Steve Harvey hit the high-end roulette table in Vegas to kick off the Miss Universe weekend.

TMZ obtained these pics, taken Friday night at Caesars. It was the big boy's table ... $25 minimum.

Our sources say Harvey was back at the table Sunday just hours before the pageant began. We're told he had a few drinks and didn't win or lose big.

Miss Universe has an international incident on her hands that could drive a wedge between 2 countries ... at least that's the way Miss Philippines sees it.

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach seems worried the Latin community will hold a grudge after Steve Harvey's epic blunder.

Miss Colombia will suffer not only disappontment as a result of Steve Harvey's blunder, but it is "something that can harm her" ... so says the country's Counsul General to New York.

Maria Isabel Nieto tells TMZ the snafu was extremely painful for Miss Colombia and could cause long-term issues. Nieto notes that physically taking the the crown from her will likely cause psychological trauma.

The Counsul General thinks Donald Trump is right on the money ... Miss Philippines and Miss Colombia should share the crown.

Failing that, Nieto thinks pageant officials should give Miss Colombia a more expanded role in the coming year. As she put it, all the first runner up does is wait, and that's not fair.

Steve Harvey might be the most hated man in Colombia EVER -- after accidentally declaring Miss Colombia the winner of Miss Universe ... and then taking it back!!!

It might be the greatest/saddest moment in the history of beauty pageants ... pay close attention to the look on Miss Colombia's face when Harvey announced his COLOSSAL mistake.

The real winner ... Miss Philippines.

Oops!

Harvey knows he screwed up -- and immediately began apologizing on Twitter.

"I'd like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible."

"Secondly, I'd like to apologize to the viewers at that I disappointed as well. Again it was an honest mistake."

"I don't want to take away from this amazing night and pageant. As well as the wonderful contestants. They were all amazing."

9:12 AM PT: Tyrese came to Harvey's defense on social media saying, "If I was hosting and seen this card...?? With this little ass writing?? I literally would of MADE the SAME MISTAKE!!!!! Steve Harvey, I stand with you."

An emotional Miss Colombia was desperately trying to hold herself together backstage -- and did a pretty good job, too -- moments after she was uncrowned as Miss Universe ... telling her fans, "Everything happens for a reason."

Clutching a mascara drenched Kleenex, the beauty queen insisted she was still "happy" -- despite Steve Harvey incorrectly naming her the winner on live TV. Oops.

As for the real winner, Miss Philippines -- she was trying to wrap her head around the whole thing backstage ... saying the way it went down was "very 2015."

Donald Trump has settled his legal disputes with NBCUniversal and Univision by using his best resource ... money, money, money.

The Donald just announced he bought out NBC's half share of the Miss Universe Organization ... making him 100% owner.

Trump threatened NBC with a lawsuit after they yanked the Miss USA pageant off the air, following his remarks about Mexicans. Miss USA is a part of the Miss Universe Org. He sued Univision for $500 million, which also pulled the plug on the pageant.

The Chilean actor who was slated to host the Miss USA pageant pulled out even before Univision pulled the plug, saying Donald Trump was "ignorant" and a "clown."

Cristian de la Fuente, who stars in "Devious Maids," went nuts on Trump for calling Mexicans drug dealers and rapists.

Cristian is not alone in his disdain. Roselyn Sanchez, his "Devious Maids" co-star, also pulled out and Univision officially pulled the plug Thursday morning.

Donald Trump's smack in the middle of a full scale Mexican backlash -- his Miss Universe Organization just lost a major TV deal over his rant about Mexican immigrants being rapists and drug dealers.

Univision announced Thursday morning that it will not air the hugely popular Miss USA (owned by Miss Universe) competition ... which is coming up next month. Colombian singer J Balvin also pulled out in protest -- and as did co-hosts Roselyn Sanchez and Cristián de la Fuente.

Trump made the now infamous rant -- saying Mexico's not "sending their best" -- when he announced he was running for the Republican nomination for president.

Trump responded ... "Univision wants to back out of signed contract because I exposed the terrible trade deals that the U.S. makes with Mexico." He added that he loves Mexico, but not the bad deals.

Univision planned to air the first ever Spanish language simulcast of the pageant, but ... no dados.

The Miss Universe Organization is rife with sexual predators and deviants who prey on unsuspecting young women ... so says a pageant hopeful who claims a recruiter tried to dupe her into sex in a parking lot.

Ashleigh Blake filed a suit today against MUO over her run-in with a guy she claims promised to land her modeling jobs and magazine covers. In the lawsuit ... Blake says she met him in his car in a Starbucks parking lot ... where he explained the terms of an "oral" contract (her double entendre, not ours).

Specifically ... Blake claims he wanted oral sex in exchange for fast-tracking her to the top of the modeling world.

In the docs, Blake says she burst into tears and ran from the car. She says she went to the cops ... and was told she couldn't file criminal charges because the recruiter didn't force her to perform the sex act.

So ... she's suing the Miss Universe Organization ... claiming it knowingly hires "scam artists" who lure naive women with false promises of modeling contracts and fame.

Blake's looking for at least $200K in damages.