Miss Universe’s Thai new owner Kuhn Anne Jakrajutatip: “From now on, it’s gonna be ran by women”
The owner of Miss Universe has said the world famous beauty pageant has entered a 'new era' after 70 years of being run by men as she takes over as the first transgender woman, and a super successful business woman, to own the competition.
Thai businesswoman and CEO of the JKN Global Group Anne Jakrajutatip told the audience at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans in New Orleans that 'time [was up]' on the old order of the pageant.
Jakrajutatip said: 'From now on it’s gonna be run by women, owned by a trans woman, for all women around the world to celebrate the power of feminism.'
Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip (Thai: จักรพงษ์ จักราจุฑาธิบดิ์), also known as Anne Jakrajutatip, sometimes informally stylized as Anne JKN, is a Thai super talented businesswoman and Chief Executive Officer of JKN Global Group.
A notable media entrepreneur and digital content distributor in Thailand, Jakrajutatip is the current owner of the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA beauty pageant organizations.
Jakrajutatip became Chief Executive Officer of JKN Global Group in 2018. She is also the founder and director of “Life Inspired for Transsexual Foundation”, a charity organization which advocates for transgender rights in Thailand.
She is also a television host on the Thai Project Runway. In October 2022, she purchased the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA beauty pageants for $20 million USD citing the desire to expand the cause of women empowerment among those who are disenfranchised by poverty and gender discrimination.
She also presented a new diadem for Miss Universe winners by sponsorship with the Mouawad jewel company.
Jakrajutatip has two Thai-Germanic children of American citizenship, a firstborn son named Andrew, and a daughter, Angelica, both via surrogacy.
She currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
She is an inspiration for many women as well as for transgender, demonstrating how far and high they can go, if they work their way to success.