Glitz, gowns, and global fame have always been the outer layer of the Miss Universe Organization. Beneath that shimmering surface, though, a very different story is unfolding. One of the most powerful people behind the iconic pageant, Jakkaphong Anne Jakrajutatip, has now been sentenced to prison in Thailand, pushing the brand into its most serious crisis in years.
The Bangkok South Kwaeng Court has handed down a two-year prison sentence to Jakrajutatip, the co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization and founder of JKN Global Group. The verdict was delivered in absentia after she failed to appear in court and remains at large, according to reporting by the Bangkok Post. The case centers on fraud linked to a corporate bond investment that allegedly misled an investor out of 30 million baht, roughly 930,000 dollars.
© AFP via Getty ImagesThis is not a quiet corporate dispute buried in legal filings. It is a criminal conviction against a woman who once stood as a symbol of media power, global glamour, and representation. Now that symbol is cracking in real time.
A Fraud Case That Started With a Promise
As reported by Complex, the charges stem from a lawsuit brought by Dr. Raveewat Maschamadol, who accused Jakrajutatip and JKN Global Group of misleading him into investing tens of millions of baht in 2023. According to the court, between July 24 and August 8 of that year, the defendants presented false information and hid key facts about JKN’s financial health.
At the time, JKN was already drowning in debt and unable to repay its bond obligations on schedule.
© Getty ImagesThe court ruled that Jakrajutatip, a top executive at the company, was aware of this but still pushed the investment forward without disclosing the truth. The result was direct financial damage to the plaintiff, which Thailand’s Criminal Code treats as fraud under Section 341.
The punishment was not symbolic. The court imposed a two-year prison term with no suspension. JKN Global Group was also convicted as an accomplice and fined 40,000 baht.
© Getty ImagesOnly one defendant showed up. The company sent a representative. Jakrajutatip did not.
On the Run With a Crown in the Balance
Jakrajutatip has been under an arrest warrant for more than a month. Authorities say she skipped earlier court hearings, and she did not appear for the verdict either. Thai and international media have reported that she may have fled the country after converting large sums of money into cryptocurrency, though officials have not confirmed her current location.
At 46, Jakrajutatip was once celebrated as a trailblazing media executive and a prominent transgender billionaire. Forbes previously listed her among the world’s wealthiest transgender individuals. That narrative of unstoppable success began to unravel as JKN’s finances collapsed.
© Getty ImagesThe company entered debt default, court-supervised rehabilitation, and became the target of multiple lawsuits. Earlier this year, Jakrajutatip resigned from her executive roles at both JKN and Miss Universe following separate allegations involving falsified financial statements. The fraud conviction now turns that financial chaos into a criminal reckoning.
Miss Universe in the Middle of the Storm
This legal disaster could not have landed at a worse time for the Miss Universe Organization. The 2025 competition was already followed by resignations from contestants, judges, and senior executives, all of which pointed to internal turmoil and leadership breakdowns.
Miss Universe is not just a pageant. It is a global business empire tied to television rights, sponsorships, fashion deals, and national franchises across more than 80 countries. Its reputation depends on stability and trust. When one of its owners is sentenced to prison for fraud and disappears from the courtroom, that trust takes a serious hit.
© Thai News PixEven though Jakrajutatip stepped away from her formal roles, her ownership stake still casts a long shadow. Partners, broadcasters, and national pageant organizations now have to wonder what comes next. A brand built on crowns and confidence suddenly finds itself answering very unglamorous questions about governance, transparency, and who is really in charge.
What Happens Now
Legally, Jakrajutatip is reportedly a convicted felon in Thailand. If apprehended, she faces two years behind bars. JKN remains under financial and legal strain. Miss Universe continues to operate, but under a cloud that will not disappear quickly.
© Getty ImagesThe Miss Universe crown still sparkles on stage, but behind the curtain, the organization is being forced to confront a reckoning that no amount of sequins can hide.
