BANGKOK –
A Thai enterprise tycoon and transgender activist has bought the Miss Universe Organization for US$20 million, her firm introduced Wednesday.
Chakrapong “Anne” Chakrajutathib, who controls JKN Global 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 Inspired For Transsexual Foundation, 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 firm which has held the Miss Universe Organization 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 within the United States, JKN Metaverse Inc., to personal the Miss Universe Organization. The Miss Universe pageant is broadcast in 165 international locations, in line with IMG.
In a press release, Chakrapong described the acquisition as “a strong, strategic addition to our portfolio.” JKN, which is concerned in content material distribution, drinks, meals dietary supplements, magnificence and client merchandise, mentioned the Miss Universe title can be used to advertise its client merchandise.
A profile of Chakrapong within the Bangkok Post 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 (US$1 million) on intercourse reassignment surgical procedure and different procedures, it mentioned.
While Thailand enjoys a optimistic worldwide fame in relation to the rights and existence of LGBTQ communities, the absence of a process for transgender folks to alter their authorized gender, coupled with inadequate authorized protections and social stigma, limits transgender folks’s entry to providers and exposes them to every day indignities, New York-based Human Rights Watch mentioned in a report final 12 months.