Thai transgender activist and enterprise tycoon buys Miss Universe for $20 million

Chakrapong “Anne” Chakrajutathib, who controls JKN International Group Public Co. Ltd., is a celeb in Thailand who has starred in actuality exhibits and is outspoken about being a transgender lady. She helped set up a non-profit group, Life Impressed For Transsexual Basis, to advertise transsexual rights.

JKN mentioned it acquired the rights to the Miss Universe pageant from IMG Worldwide LLC, a sports activities, expertise and occasions advertising and marketing firm which has held the Miss Universe Group since 2015. Former U.S. President Donald Trump was half proprietor of the pageant rights from 1996 till IMG’s buy.

JKN mentioned it has established a subsidiary in america, JKN Metaverse Inc., to personal the Miss Universe Group. The Miss Universe pageant is broadcast in 165 international locations, in keeping with IMG.

In a press release, Chakrapong described the acquisition as “a robust, strategic addition to our portfolio.” JKN, which is concerned in content material distribution, drinks, meals dietary supplements, magnificence and shopper merchandise, mentioned the Miss Universe title might be used to advertise its shopper merchandise.

A profile of Chakrapong within the Bangkok Put up newspaper earlier this 12 months mentioned in her youth, she studied at an all-male college the place she was harassed for figuring out as feminine. After attaining monetary success, she spent 40 million baht ($1 million) on intercourse reassignment surgical procedure and different procedures, it mentioned.

Whereas Thailand enjoys a optimistic worldwide popularity on the subject of the rights and existence of LGBTQ communities, the absence of a process for transgender individuals to vary their authorized gender, coupled with inadequate authorized protections and social stigma, limits transgender individuals’s entry to companies and exposes them to every day indignities, New York-based Human Rights Watch mentioned in a report final 12 months.