For the primary time in its 71-year-old historical past, a lady — Thai billionaire Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip — has acquired possession of the enduring Miss Universe Group (MUO).
Jakrajutatip’s Thailand-based world content material commerce and broadcast firm JKN International Group purchased MUO — which holds the proper to Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teena USA — from Endeavor’s IMG.
Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, CEO of JKN International Group, and the primary lady proprietor of The Miss Universe Group CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Jakrajutatip, a transgender businesswoman, is a well-liked persona in her residence nation, showing within the native iterations of world hit reveals “Undertaking Runway” and “Shark Tank.” In 2018, she arrange Life Impressed For Transsexual (LIFT) Basis to advocate for rights of transgenders.
The 43-year-old enterprise mogul stated JKN’s acquisition of MOU will construct on the group’s sturdy model and imaginative and prescient.
“We’re extremely honored to be buying The Miss Universe Group and dealing with its visionary management crew. We search not solely to proceed its legacy of offering a platform to passionate people from numerous backgrounds, cultures, and traditions, but additionally to evolve the model for the subsequent technology,” Jakrajutatip shared in a press release.
In the meantime, in a digital press convention on Thursday attended by members of the worldwide press together with The Manila Instances, Jakrajutatip talked about that the acquisition is just not just for the pleasure of Thailand and her firm however all the ladies around the globe.
“Having a worldwide platform is exhibiting to the entire world that we [women] are clever and superbly assured. You’re the lady that folks can look as much as, you’ll be able to remodel individuals’s lives to the subsequent degree and win over all of the obstacles in life. I’m trying ahead to having the transformational management in girls. Because of this I purchase Miss Universe Group, it is a part of my private life mission,” stated Jakrajutatip.
Jakrajutatip held a digital press convention Thursday with Miss Universe Group CEO Amy Emmerich and President Paula Shugart.
Jakrajutatip added that since watching the Miss Universe pageant for the primary time, she already noticed the the enterprise alternatives it may possibly create. Miss Universe is likely one of the longest-running and most-watched competitions on the planet, broadcast in 165 international locations worldwide and seen by greater than half a billion individuals yearly.
MUO’s present CEO, Amy Emmerich, and president, Paula Shugart will retain the management positions. The 2 have been additionally nearly current within the media convention and shared their pleasure within the new partnership.
“I’ve been right here for over 20 years and I can say I believe in my 20 years, that is probably the most excited I’ve been. I like the Miss Universe model and I do know we’re in excellent palms,” stated Shugart.
“I’m completely sure beneath the superb forward-thinking management of Anne, the superbly assured lady, we’ll proceed to drive our message of energy and appreciation to audiences all around the globe,” she continued.
Emmerich seconded, “The acquisition goes to construct on the group’s sturdy model and imaginative and prescient. I’m excited to see it develop and built-in by way of all alternatives that JKN presents to their portfolio – the fixed distribution, the wonder, the patron merchandise, even coming into into the brand new ones just like the Miss Metaverse.”
Amongst JKN’s plans for Miss Universe is producing extra worth primarily based on the pure power of the Miss Universe model, together with the upcoming debut of MU Way of life. This new MUO licensing and merchandising arm will leverage the power of the Miss Universe model and JKN’s life-style portfolio to create a brand new vary of merchandise, in addition to leisure and numerous enterprise alternatives that mirror the power of the model.
Jakrajutatip additionally revealed that they are going to be launching a brand new crown come January 2023. The 71st Miss Universe competitors shall be held January 14, 2023 on the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Conference Heart. The highly-anticipated occasion will characteristic almost 90 girls from around the globe. The night will culminate with the present Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu crowning her successor. Twenty-four-year-old Celeste Cortesi shall be representing the Philippines.
The Miss Universe Group began in 1952 by a model referred to as Pacific Knitting Mills. It was co-owned by former President Donald Trump between 1996 and 2015, earlier than Endeavor’s IMG purchased it in 2015.