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ThailandTransgender millionaire redeems Miss Universe beauty pageant
The competition’s organizing company, formerly owned by Donald Trump, is now owned by Anne JKN, a Thai TV star and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
In the 2021 edition of the pageant, Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu was crowned Miss Universe in Eilat, Israel.
AFP
Anne Jakkapong Jakrajutatip, a transgender Thai businesswoman, has bought the Miss Universe organizing company, formerly owned by Donald Trump, for $20 million, the company said in a statement. This is the first time that a woman has taken the lead in the famous beauty contest.
Thai television star and defender of the rights of LGBTQ + people, the one nicknamed “Anne JKN” heads the media group JKN Global. She is known in her country for hosting the Thai version of Project Runway, a fashion reality show. His fortune is estimated at $170 million, according to Forbes magazine.
A year of negotiations
This acquisition of Miss Universe Organization (MUO) will strengthen the image of Thailand abroad, assures the new owner of the contest. “I hope it will serve Thailand’s power of influence and attract more tourists to our country,” she told reporters in Bangkok. It is a “strong and strategic addition” to her company’s portfolio, she added.
It took a year to finalize negotiations with former owner IMG, a subsidiary of American entertainment giant Endevor. IMG had owned the contest organization since 2015 following buying it from businessman and former US President Donald Trump, who had owned it since 1996.
Continuing the Legacy of the Competition
In a Facebook post, Anne JKN thanked the contest fans for their love and support. “We seek not only to continue the legacy of the competition by providing a platform for passionate people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and traditions, but also to evolve the brand for the next generation,” she said in a statement. .
Amy Emmerich and Paula Shugart, MUO’s chief executive and president, respectively, will remain. The competition has existed for 71 years and the next edition will take place in New Orleans, United States, next January. The competition is broadcast in 165 countries.
(AFP)
