Thais are crazy over beauty pageants. Rooting for beauty queens walking down the runway can be as loud as the cheers for Premier League matches. And Thai fans have more to rejoice over now that a Thai entrepreneur has just bought Miss Universe, the most famous of all pageants.
JKN TV channel founder Jakrapong “Anne” Jakrajutathip has purchased Miss Universe Organization for around US$20 million from IMG and wants to steer the pageant in a new direction. While Jakrapong reassures that Miss Universe will continue to empower women, she also wants the pageant to be more inclusive and plans to welcome married women and LGBT individuals as contestants. She has also revealed her intent to launch Miss Universe-branded merchandise, such as fashion goods, cosmetics, and vitamin drinks.
Amy Emmerich and Paula Shugart will continue to work for the brand as CEO and president, respectively.
Jakrapong, who is a proud transwoman, is a self-made billionaire who owns JKN TV Channel, which specializes in importing Indian TV series and movies. She also holds the rights to reality show Project Runway and business news channel CNBC in Thailand.
Along with Miss Universe, Jakrapong now owns Miss USA and Miss Teen USA as well as the rights to publish all IMG sports content in Thailand.
Jakrapong assures she has no power in picking the winners of the pageants.