Thai business tycoon, transgender activist buys Miss Universe org for $20M
Contestants participate in the Miss Universe Myanmar 2022 pageant in Yangon, Myanmar, Oct. 1, 2022. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua via Getty Images)
A Thai business tycoon and transgender activist has purchased the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million, her company announced Wednesday.
Chakrapong "Anne" Chakrajutathib, who controls JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd., is a celebrity in Thailand who has starred in reality shows and is outspoken about being a transgender woman. She helped establish a nonprofit group, Life Inspired For Transsexual Foundation, to promote trans rights.
JKN said it acquired the rights to the Miss Universe pageant from IMG Worldwide LLC, a sports, talent and events marketing company which has held the Miss Universe Organization since 2015. Former U.S. President Donald Trump was part owner of the pageant rights from 1996 until IMG’s purchase.
JKN said it has established a subsidiary in the United States, JKN Metaverse Inc., to own the Miss Universe Organization. The Miss Universe pageant is broadcast in 165 countries, according to IMG.
READ MORE: Miss Universe pageant to allow married women, mothers to compete for 1st time
In a statement, Chakrapong described the purchase as "a strong, strategic addition to our portfolio." JKN, which is involved in content distribution, beverages, food supplements, beauty and consumer products, said the Miss Universe name will be used to promote its consumer products.
Miss Mexico Andrea Meza is crowned Miss Universe 2020 onstage at the 69th Miss Universe competition at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on May 16, 2021 in Hollywood, Florida. (Photo by Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images)
A profile of Chakrapong in the Bangkok Post newspaper earlier this year said in her youth, she studied at an all-male school where she was harassed for identifying as female. After attaining financial success, she spent 40 million baht ($1 million) on sex reassignment surgery and other procedures, the newspaper reported.
While Thailand enjoys a positive international reputation when it comes to the rights and lifestyles of LGBTQ communities, the absence of a procedure for transgender people to change their legal gender, coupled with insufficient legal protections and social stigma, limits transgender people’s access to services and exposes them to daily indignities, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a report last year.
NASA Artemis III crew: Meet the astronauts, mission timeline updates
NASA will reveal the four astronauts who have been selected for the Artemis III mission during a news conference Tuesday at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Fairmount residents react ahead of FIFA Fan Fest
Residents in Philadelphia's Fairmount neighborhood are nervous, yet excited as the 2026 FIFA World Cup Fan Fest heads to their backyard.
Haiti national team hosts community day in Galloway ahead of World Cup matches in Philly
The Haiti national team hosted a community day in Galloway, New Jersey, as they prepare for upcoming FIFA World Cup matches, engaging local youth and the Haitian community.
U.S. hits Iranian sites after helicopter downed: What we know
The U.S. military launched precision strikes against Iranian air defense, ground control stations and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday, June 9, according to a statement from the U.S. military. The attacks involved U.S. Air Force and Navy fighter jets and came after a U.S. Army Apache helicopter went down off the coast of Oman following a collision with an Iranian drone.
Team Haiti hosts community day ahead of World Cup matches in Philly
Team Haiti hosted a community day in Galloway, New Jersey, as they prepare for upcoming FIFA World Cup matches, engaging local youth and the Haitian community.
Iran latest: US retaliatory strikes on Iran end, CENTCOM details attacks
President Trump posted to social media that the military confirmed to him that an Apache helicopter that crashed near the Strait of Hormuz was shot down by Iranian forces, promises a response.
Nola Dinkins: Mom found guilty in 2025 murder of 3-year-old daughter
Darrian Randle was found guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse in the 2025 death of her three-year-old daughter, Nola Dinkins, with sentencing scheduled for October 2, 2026.
Plane crash survivor, Army veteran and filmmaker unite to tell the story behind "The Veteran"
The cast and filmmaker of "The Veteran" discuss the film’s focus on the struggles veterans face after service, including PTSD, addiction, homelessness, and the importance of empathy and support.
Karmelo Anthony found guilty and sentenced 35 years in prison for the 2025 track meet stabbing
Karmelo Anthony has been found guilty of murder in connection with the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf during a track meet last year. Anthony has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.