There have been a few promising changes in the Miss Universe space recently, most of which have had audiences singing their praises.
In August, it was announced that for the first time in its 70-year history, mothers and wives would be allowed to participate in Miss Universe, changing a rule as old as the parent itself.
Now, an announcement has revealed that the entire Miss Universe pageant is under new leadership, with Jakapong ‘Anne’ Jakrajutatip at the helm of its ship.
Jakrajutatip has made history as the first woman to head the Miss Universe Organization after her Thai company, JKN Global Group, bought MUO from IMG as confirmed to Insider.
This is a massive change in ownership narratives, and a stark contrast to the Donald Trump ownership era. Jakrajutatip is transgender and from Thailand – two identities that powerfully challenge the conservative association with the pageant as much as they inspire groups who were previously told they’d never make the pageant cut.
Who is Jakapong Anne Jakrajutatip?
@annejkn.official/Instagram
A tycoon and activist don’t always go hand in hand, but for Jakrajutatip, both seem to work in harmony.
She is the biggest shareholder of JKN according to Reuters, a company that distributes entertainment from local content to movies and TV shows. The story goes that Jakrajutatip saved her family’s video rental business, turning it into the highly profitable JKN.
Of her activism, Jakrajutatip is predominantly focused on transgender rights – something she wants to use the Miss Universe platform to advocate for.
In fact, she once shared with Elite Plus Magazine that her dream was to compete in a beauty pageant of international standard, but she knew that wouldn’t have been possible for the Miss Universe pageant at the time.
Now she owns it. Talk about a main character moment!
“It’s a universal platform… I can become the aspiration for so many people, in particular women, LGBTQ, so they can transform,” she shared.
Future plans for The Miss Universe Pageant and Miss SA
Beyond releasing constraints on inclusivity, Jakrajutatip wishes for the pageant to stand more firmly in promoting tourism using Thailand’s model.
“Every country – not just Thailand – will get tourism income when you are the (pageant) host country,” Jakapong is quoted as saying.
Miss Universe has inspired many changes in national pageants. The transgender rule was amended in 2012, and in 2021 South Africa followed suit. Refocusing the pageant to allow mothers and wives is something that many hope will trickle down to Miss SA, who has previously shared that it is “actively reviewing this requirement in the context of international competition rules and hopes to implement meaningful change in the future,” in light of the motherhood restriction.
Compiled by: Ashleigh Nefdt
