A Bangkok court has issued an arrest warrant for Jakkaphong ‘Anne’ Jakrajutatip, co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, following her failure to appear for a court hearing in a fraud case. The court issued the warrant after she did not show up for a hearing on Tuesday, prompting officials to classify her as a flight risk and rescheduling the hearing for December 26. Jakrajutatip is accused of defrauding an investor in 2023 by misrepresenting the company’s financial health during a corporate-bond deal that reportedly cost the investor $930,000. Her company, JKN Global Group, has faced severe financial trouble, defaulting on investor payments in 2023 and entering debt rehabilitation in 2024 with liabilities amounting to about $93 million. Jakrajutatip, a well-known Thai celebrity and openly transgender woman, resigned from all company positions in June after being accused of falsifying 2023 financial statements, though she remains the largest shareholder of JKN.
Additionally, the 74th Miss Universe pageant faced a string of embarrassments. A Thai organizer publicly reprimanded Mexico’s Fátima Bosch Fernández, who ultimately won the 2025 crown, sparking backlash, while two judges also withdrew, with one hinting the scoring wasn’t entirely above board. Thai authorities separately opened an investigation into whether the event’s promotional materials illegally advertised online gambling. The chaos deepened when Jamaica’s contestant, Gabrielle Henry, fell off the stage during the preliminary evening gown round.
President Donald Trump once owned the Miss Universe Organization, controlling the pageant from 1996 until 2015, when he sold it to talent agency giant IMG after NBC severed ties with him during the early stages of his presidential campaign. The brand has since changed hands multiple times. Trump sold the company in 2015, and in 2022, IMG Worldwide LLC sold it to Jakrajutatip.
The case involving Jakrajutatip highlights broader issues of corporate misconduct and the challenges of transparency in international business dealings. The fraud allegations and subsequent legal actions against her underscore the consequences of misrepresenting financial information to investors. While the exact outcome of the court proceedings remains pending, the potential implications for her personal and professional life, as well as for the Miss Universe Organization, could be significant. As the legal process unfolds, stakeholders and investors will be watching closely for developments that could affect the organization’s future.