Miss Universe in the middle of an international scandal with allegations of fraud and drug trafficking

The Miss Universe beauty pageant is going through one of the most tense periods in its history, after the two co-owners of the competition are targeted by criminal investigations in Thailand and Mexico. The information, confirmed by the AFP agency, calls into question the credibility of a global franchise valued at millions of dollars. A Thai court has issued an arrest warrant for Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, a businesswoman and co-owner of Miss Universe, accused of fraud worth 930,000 dollars. A renowned cosmetic surgeon claims that Jakapong misled him to convince him to invest in her company, JKN Global. Prosecutors accuse her of fraud and of hiding relevant information from investors. Jakapong, who became the first transgender woman to hold the Miss Universe title in 2022, bought the pageant for $20 million before selling half of her shares to her Mexican business partner.

The second blow for the organizers came midweek, when the Mexican Federal Prosecutor's Office confirmed that businessman Raul Rocha Cantu, co-owner of Miss Universe, is being investigated for drug trafficking, arms trafficking and fuel trafficking. Authorities have issued arrest warrants for 13 suspects, without revealing their names. Mexican media, however, say that Rocha Cantu is among those targeted and that he may have ties to the father of the current Miss Universe, Fatima Bosch, an association he has firmly denied.

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The pageant held last week in Thailand was marked by incidents, polemics and public accusations. Mexico's representative, Fatima Bosch, won the title, but not without tension. In a video that went viral in November, pageant host Nawat Itsaragrisil insulted the 25-year-old, calling her an "idiot” while criticizing her for not releasing a promotional video about Thailand. Bosch left the room in tears, followed by other contestants. Her reaction sparked solidarity in Mexico, including from President Claudia Sheinbaum. After winning the title, Bosch said she had received "insults, verbal attacks and even death threats” amid speculation about her father's alleged ties to Rocha Cantu. Miss Universe, once a prestigious platform owned by Donald Trump, is now embroiled in a scandal that is damaging both the organizers' image and public trust.