Fresh controversies have engulfed the Miss Universe Organisation barely a week after the 2025 pageant concluded in Thailand, as authorities in both Thailand and Mexico launch criminal investigations into the contest’s co-owners.
A Thai court has issued an arrest warrant for Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, a prominent media entrepreneur and co-owner of the global pageant, over an alleged $930,000 fraud, while Mexican prosecutors are probing the other co-owner, Raul Rocha Cantu, for suspected involvement in arms, drug, and fuel trafficking.
The double-barrel scandal comes just days after Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, won the crown in a competition that was already marred by drama, including a public confrontation between Bosch and the show’s host.
A court official in Bangkok confirmed to AFP that the warrant for Jakapong was approved on Tuesday.
The case stems from a petition by a plastic surgeon, who accused the JKN Global Group CEO of misleading him into investing in her media company without disclosing crucial financial information.
Jakapong’s JKN Global Group purchased Miss Universe in 2022 for $20 million before selling half of its stake to Rocha Cantu’s Legacy Holding Group for $16 million.
In Mexico, federal prosecutors announced that Rocha Cantu is under scrutiny for alleged dealings in weapons, narcotics, and illegal fuel trading.
The authorities also disclosed that arrest warrants have been issued for 13 unnamed suspects linked to the investigation. Mexican media reported that Rocha may be one of them.
Rocha was previously accused in local reports of having business ties to Bernando Bosch, father of the newly crowned Miss Universe. The senior Pemex executive has denied the allegations.
The scandal has triggered a surge of online attacks against 25-year-old Fatima Bosch, whose rise to fame intensified after a viral clip showed her walking out of a tense meeting where the pageant’s Thai director, Nawat Itsaragrisil, berated her and called her a “dumbhead” for not posting promotional content.
Her stance earned her praise, including from Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum.
However, following the new corruption allegations, Bosch revealed on Tuesday that she had received death threats and insults targeted at her family.
The Miss Universe brand, once owned by former US President Donald Trump, has grappled with multiple controversies in recent years, including financial instability and criticism over pageant management.
The latest developments threaten to plunge the organisation into its deepest crisis yet, raising questions about the future of the global competition and the integrity of its leadership.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
