They take their beauty pageants seriously in Colombia.

It’s a cultural thing, I guess, so I won’t pretend to understand it. I’ll just have to accept it for what it is.

Colombians were gathered around the TV sets Sunday night and then cheered hysterically when emcee Steve Harvey announced that their contestant had been named Miss Universe.

To borrow a phrase — oops! — not so fast. Harvey, a well-known comedian and game-show host, came back to apologize. The real Miss Universe is the young woman from The Philippines, he said as a chorus of boos rang out from the crowd.

Colombians, from the president on down, are demanding answers. How could they do this to our contestant? What shame! What an embarrassment to her and to us!

There’s a saying that I’m sure has a Spanish equivalent, so the Colombians will understand.

Nobody’s perfect.

Put another way: S*** happens, man!

Harvey has apologized, repeatedly, profusely, sincerely. He’s got plenty of explaining to do right here at home, where this event happened. He had the names written correctly on the card he held on his hand.

As for Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo, she’s going to have enough endorsement deals to last her several lifetimes. She hasn’t a worry in the world.

Take this to the bank: The shortest Miss Universe reign in history is going to become one of the most lucrative in history.