Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, a transgender Thai businesswoman, bought the Miss Universe pageant company formerly owned by Donald Trump for $20 million, the company said in a statement.
Thai TV celebrity and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Anne “JKN” is the first woman to lead the famous beauty pageant.
She runs the JKN Global media group and is known in her country for hosting the Thai version of Project Runway, a fashion reality show. Her fortune is estimated at $170 million, according to Forbes.
A year of negotiations
This acquisition of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) will strengthen Thailand’s image abroad, she hopes.
“I hope it will serve Thailand’s power of influence and attract more tourists to our country,” he told reporters in Bangkok.
It is a “strong and strategic addition” to his company’s portfolio, he added. It took him a year to finalize negotiations with former owner IMG, a subsidiary of US entertainment giant Endeavour.
Next edition of the contest in January
In a Facebook post, he thanked fans of the pageant for their love and support.
“We not only seek 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,” the businesswoman said in a statement.
Amy Emmerich and Paula Shugart, CEO and president of MUO, respectively, will remain. The competition has existed for 71 years and the next edition will take place in New Orleans, USA, next January. The competition is broadcast in 165 countries.
JKN Global Group owns the distribution rights for foreign documentaries, TV dramas and reality shows in Thailand. IMG had owned the pageant organization since 2015 after buying it from businessman and former US President Donald Trump, who had owned it since 1996.
Source: BFM TV
