BANGKOK, Thailand -- Comedian and actor Steve Byrne is stepping onto one of the world's most glamorous stages as the host of the 74th Miss Universe pageant, and even he admits the moment still feels surreal.
"I think, when you think pageantry, beauty, and sophistication, you definitely don't think of me. But for some reason, I'm the host, and I'm honored, and it's a privilege to be here. Not only in this beautiful country, but with all these beautiful, beautiful souls and women. It's been great," said Byrne, days before the coronation night.
Byrne says the invitation to host the pageant caught him off guard, and he couldn't help but joke about the circumstances.
"Like, who else said no before you got to me? Like, it must be a very long list," he said.
The joke aside, he didn't hesitate and gave the organizers a "quick yes."
For Byrne, being a comedian makes him confident he's the right fit for the global stage.
"Everybody's coming from all over the world, and I think a comedian is the perfect host because you want to be warm, gracious, and hospitable, and make this as communal as possible. So that's really my job, and I'm beyond thrilled and privileged to get to do it," he said.
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-- Steve Harvey's Viral Moment --
Byrne acknowledges that hosting Miss Universe comes with immense pressure—especially after Steve Harvey's infamous announcement error in 2015, when he initially announced Ariadna Gutiérrez of Colombia.
Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines was later announced as the correct winner.
Byrne is well aware of the incident, admitting that he initially thought Harvey had been making a joke. But he also emphasizes Harvey's sincerity.
"You could see the sincerity," he said. "When you're the host and you're responsible for everything, and I understand how it could be confused. So we have a fun bit to address it that we all came up with."
Byrne also noted how important it is to protect each candidate's moment onstage.
"You don't want to take away from somebody's moment. So that's why, you know, here we're really making sure we, you know, these women have been through so much… I especially want to make sure that that is as flawless and as seamless as possible so that whoever it is that wins really appreciates their moment," he added.
Byrne confirmed he will be hosting alone, and he's fully embracing it. Nonetheless, the pageant's unusually early taping time surprised him, as he is still adjusting to the timezone.
"My body's here, but Steve Byrne is back in Nashville, Tennessee, or somewhere, to kind of get through the fog," he joked.
However, he also recognizes the prestige of Miss Universe.
"This is an iconic competition… And again, to be an ambassador in some form or fashion, I'm beyond thrilled for this thing," he said.
With three days left before the coronation night, Byrne is taking some time to explore the host country.
"I've been exploring the city, trying to sponge up so much of the culture and meet everybody and enjoy the food. And everybody's been so fantastic, hospitable, gracious, kind. Everybody's smiling," he said.
The Miss Universe coronation night is set on Friday, November 21.