For the first time in more than seven decades, the Miss Universe organisation, known for its annual beauty pageant Miss Universe, is owned by a woman. And its new owner wants to bring about much-needed change. Thai media mogul and transgender woman Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip is the founder and CEO of JKN Global Group, which purchased the Miss Universe organisation in October 2021 for US$20 million.
“Pregnant women, married women, divorced women—they are allowed to be in the competition,” says Jakrajutatip of the competition rules she has amended so far. “And of course, we allow trans women to come into the competition,” she adds; the competition was opened up to transgender women in 2012.
However, an age of limit of 28 for contestants remains, something that the recently crowned winner of Miss Universe 2022 wants to see change. “I would like to see an age increase because I am 28 years
