The former president of the Miss Universe Organization, the American Paula Shugart, threatened this Monday to sue the Thai owner of the brand, Jakapong “Anne” Jakrajutatip, for defamation for claiming that she took bribes during the beauty pageant.
Shugart noted in a post on the social network Instagram that the Thai woman's allegedly “false and outrageous” comments had prompted him to break his silence and consider taking legal action against Jakrajutatip in Thailand.
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“I cannot stand these dangerous and reckless statements that demean the Miss Universe brand and its owners,” said Shugart, who resigned last November from the position she held for more than 20 years.
According to the former president, Jakrajutatip, the transgender businesswoman who won the 2022 Miss Universe award, suggested in messages published in Thai that Shugart was “corrupt” and received bribes to secure positions in the beauty pageant.
“Jakrajutatip not only defames me, but also discredits the women who won the Miss Universe crown by insinuating that their titles were 'bought' and not earned through merit,” emphasizes the American.
Shugart, who posts the Thai owner's alleged comments on the aforementioned social network, does not specify the date or origin of these Jakrajutatip messages.
Thai company JKN Global Group, led by the popular trans businesswoman and activist, acquired Miss Universe from New York-based IMG Worldwide LLC in October 2022 for $20 million (approximately €18.6 million).
Since then, JKN Global Group has suffered from liquidity problems and last November applied to Thailand's central bank bankruptcy court to initiate a process to restructure its operations and debts.
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Although the Thai businesswoman clarified that these financial problems would not affect the Miss Universe Organization.
Miss Universe has been held annually since 1952 and is broadcast in more than 160 countries. The next edition will take place in Mexico on an as yet unspecified date.