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☆ On Pageant Day, Miss Universe Faces Bankruptcy Court and a Leadership Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Rory Satran | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Thai trans media mogul Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, known as Anne JKN, is a household name in Thailand. Her company has owned Miss Universe since last year. Photo: Benjamin AskinaWhen Thai media mogul Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip fulfilled her lifelong dream of buying Miss Universe, it signaled a new chapter for the beleaguered pageant. Miss Universe, which bows tonight in El Salvador, had been limping along with dwindling relevance in recent years. Also known as Anne Jakrajutatip and Anne JKN, Jakrajutatip is the chief executive of Thai media conglomerate JKN Global, which owns television stations, content distribution networks, a beverage factory and other businesses.

Persons: Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, Anne JKN, Benjamin Askina, Anne Jakrajutatip Organizations: Miss Universe, Miss, JKN Locations: Thai, Thailand, El Salvador

☆ Miss Universe will feature two trans contestants for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —This year’s Miss Universe pageant will feature at least two trans women for first time, after 23-year-old flight attendant Marina Machete was last week named Miss Portugal. Ms Portugal 2023 - Finalista Palmela Marina MacheteIf either candidate wins, they will become the first trans woman to wear the tiara. Neither Machete nor Miss Portugal’s organizers responded to requests for interview, though in a statement to CNN the Miss Universe Organization said: “Trans women are women, full stop. “Starting next year, every adult woman in the world will be eligible to compete to be Miss Universe,” the statement added. “Miss Universe asked us to describe ourselves in one word,” Kollé said in a video posted to her Instagram page ahead of the Miss Netherlands final.

Persons: Marina Machete, Miss Portugal, Machete, Rikkie Kollé, ”, I’ve, Portugal, Marina, Spain’s Ángela Ponce, Miss Portugal’s, Jenna Talackova, Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, Miss Universe's, Carlos Alvarez, “, ” Kollé, you’re Organizations: CNN, Miss, 72nd Miss, YouTube, Miss Universe Organization, Miss Universe Canada, JKN Global Locations: El Salvador, Miss Netherlands, Portuguese, Thailand, Madrid, Spain, China

CNN —A Thai media tycoon and transgender rights advocate has bought the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million, according to her company, which will now host the international beauty pageant. In a joint statement, the CEO and president of the Miss Universe Organization said they were “excited to continue the evolution of the Miss Universe Organization with JKN.”“Our progressive approach continues to position us at the forefront of our industry,” they said. The purchase makes Jakkaphong the first woman owner of the Miss Universe Organization, according to the JKN news release. The Miss Universe beauty contest, one of the world’s most-watched pageants, has been running since 1952. And in 2019, the winners of five major pageants – Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA – were all women of color, a remarkable milestone given black women weren’t allowed to compete in Miss America until the 1940s, and the first black contestant didn’t take that stage until 30 years later.

BANGKOK, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A Thai celebrity media tycoon, transgender rights advocate and new owner of the Miss Universe beauty pageant wants to use the event to inspire women like her and boost tourism. She bought the Miss Universe Organisation on Wednesday for $20 million, marking the first time the beauty pageant organiser has been owned by a woman, her company said. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha 1 2 3 4She said Miss Universe can promote Thailand's Five F-factors tourism campaign, boosting fighting (Thai boxing), film, festival, fashion and food. “Every country - not just Thailand - will get tourism income when you are the (pageant) host country,” Jakapong said. Other plans for Miss Universe include licensing and merchandising opportunities, including integration with JKN’s own businesses like fashion, beverages and cosmetics.

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