Miss Universe Owners Face Fraud, Trafficking Claims in Mexico & Thailand Amid Post-Pageant Scandal

Miss Universe Plunges Into Scandal: Co-Owners Face Fraud and Trafficking Allegations

The Miss Universe beauty pageant, a global spectacle of grace and competition, finds itself embroiled in a deepening scandal just days after its latest crowning ceremony. Both the Mexican and Thai co-owners of the prestigious contest are now facing serious allegations ranging from fraud to drug and arms trafficking, casting a long shadow over the event's glamorous façade.

Thai Co-Owner Accused of Fraud

In Thailand, Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, a prominent media mogul and co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, is under intense legal scrutiny. A Thai court official confirmed on November 26 that an arrest warrant had been issued for Jakapong, stemming from allegations of fraud amounting to US$930,000 (S$1.2 billion). A plastic surgeon has accused her of deceit and withholding crucial information, claiming she persuaded him to invest in her JKN Global Group, which holds co-ownership of the pageant. Jakapong’s JKN Global Group initially acquired the Miss Universe Organization for US$20 million in 2022, later divesting half its stake to Raul Rocha Cantu’s Legacy Holding Group USA for US$16 million.

Mexican Co-Owner Investigated for Trafficking

Across the globe, in Mexico, the federal prosecutor’s office announced on November 26 that the other co-owner, Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantu, is under investigation for alleged involvement in arms, drug, and fuel trafficking. Authorities stated they are actively gathering key information to advance and deepen this probe. While arrest warrants have been issued for 13 individuals in connection with this wider investigation, their identities were not disclosed, though Mexican media outlets have widely reported that Rocha is among those being sought by law enforcement.

Miss Mexico's Controversial Connections and Defiance

The scandal further intensified with local reports linking Rocha to the father of the recently crowned Miss Universe, Ms. Fatima Bosch. These reports suggested potential business dealings between Rocha and Bernando Bosch, Ms. Bosch's father, who serves as a senior executive at the state-owned oil company Pemex. Bernando Bosch, however, has vehemently denied any association with Rocha.

Ms. Bosch herself became a figure of widespread attention and praise during the competition for her defiant stance against the pageant’s Thai director, Nawat Itsaragrisil. She famously led a walkout from a meeting after Mr. Nawat publicly chastised her as a "dumbhead" for allegedly failing to post promotional content on her social media. This act of defiance garnered her significant support, including commendation from Mexico's first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum. Despite her popularity, the 25-year-old beauty queen revealed on November 25 that she had received "insults, attacks, and even death threats" following the allegations concerning her father’s potential ties to the contest.

This unfolding drama marks a tumultuous period for the Miss Universe pageant, which was once owned by former US President Donald Trump, as its current leadership faces unprecedented legal and public scrutiny.