A Thai court has issued an arrest warrant for Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, media mogul and co-owner of the Miss Universe beauty pageant, over alleged fraud totaling $930,000, a court official confirmed.
The warrant was issued by the South Bangkok Civil Court after a plastic surgeon accused Jakapong of fraud and concealing information to persuade him to invest in her company, JKN Global Group, in 2023.
According to the court, Jakapong allegedly knew she would be unable to repay the money within the agreed timeframe.
Jakapong failed to appear at the scheduled verdict on Tuesday, prompting the court to interpret her absence as a potential attempt to flee. The verdict has now been rescheduled for December 26. Some local media reports suggest she may have traveled to Mexico amid rumors of financial difficulties.
Jakapong’s legal troubles come shortly after the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, which concluded in Bangkok amidst controversy. During the event, host Fatima Bosch, representing Mexico, was publicly berated by a male host for allegedly not posting promotional content, leading to a walkout. The incident drew attention from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who praised Bosch for speaking out.
Jakapong’s JKN Global Group acquired Miss Universe for $20 million in 2022, later selling half its stake to Mexican firm Legacy Holding Group USA for $16 million. The company faced further scrutiny in 2024 when the Stock Exchange of Thailand delisted JKN shares after it failed to submit financial statements and was found to have falsified them.
The Miss Universe Organization stated earlier this year that these legal proceedings are “entirely separate” from its operations.
This marks a turbulent period for the pageant, which was formerly owned by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
