The transgender co-owner of Miss Universe has been caught saying that “trans women, married women and divorcees” can enter the beauty pageant, but cannot win, in a leaked video.
Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip was heard in footage from a board meeting last November making bold statements about how diversity improves the image of the league, but ultimately women from non-traditional backgrounds will not ultimately be successful.
The video, presented to Vox by Rodrigo Goytortua Ortega, the former CEO of Miss Universe Mexico, heard Jakrajutatip explain further: ‘The trans women, the women with husbands, divorced women… This is a communication strategy, because, you understand… they can compete but they can don’t win. We simply put the policy on the table. Social inclusion, as people would say’.
The footage goes on to capture other board members suggesting the creation of a “Miss Universe Model Agency,” where the organization can organize casting for models “of all different colors, sizes, whatever,” which Jakrajutatip agreed to.
However, she later agreed with the suggestion of another member of the assembly, who warned that the public would then have to be controlled, in case “they all voted for the large size.”
The Miss Universe organization had its first transgender contestant in 2018, Miss Spain Angela Ponce.
Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip was heard in footage from a board meeting last November making bold statements about how diversity improves the image of the league, but ultimately women from non-traditional backgrounds will not ultimately be successful.
Jakrajutatip said: ‘This is a communication strategy because, you see… they can compete, but they can’t win. We simply put the policy on the table. Social inclusion, as people would say’
The Miss Universe organization had its first transgender contestant in 2018, Miss Spain Angela Ponce
The 2023 lineup of contestants then featured married women for the first time, Miss Guatemala Michelle Cohn and Miss Camila Avella.
Miss Nepal Jane Dipika Garrett was the first plus-size contestant to grace the stage at the 72nd Miss Universe competition.
A version of the leaked footage was circulated in Asian and Latin American media in February but was not widely available in the US, prompting a response on Facebook from Jakrajutatip the same month.
Claiming her words were taken out of context, she added: ‘The maliciously edited video was out of context and used to manipulate other people, leading to public confusion, misunderstandings, misinterpretations and wrong conclusions.
“I am a trans woman and mother who has been fighting for gender equality rights all my life to be where I am today.”
Miss Universe also sent USA today a statement in February saying the organization has “worked tirelessly to promote inclusion.”
“In light of recent misinformation and attempts to defame the Miss Universe Organization, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the core values we have zealously defended over the years,” the statement said.
“The Miss Universe Organization has worked tirelessly to promote inclusivity, transparency and integrity, and we will not be misled by unfounded accusations.
(L-R) Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza, Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu, Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes and Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova
“We have been made aware of malicious attempts by certain individuals to damage the reputation of our organization by spreading false allegations.”
But Jakrajutatip’s comments from the impressive footage carry extra weight given the recent controversies surrounding the Miss Universe Organization following the double resignation of two pageant queens last month.
In May, Miss USA 2024 Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2024 UmaSofia Srivastava both resigned within days of each other.
Voigt, 24, shared her shock resignation on Instagram, explaining that she wanted to focus on her “physical and mental well-being.”
Just two days later, 17-year-old Srivastava said she too was resigning because her personal values ”no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.”
The back-to-back resignations sent shockwaves through the pageant community, with eagle-eyed fans spotting a “code” in Noelia’s statement after the first letter of each spelled sentence: “I AM SILENCED.”
In her shocking statement, Noelia cited a “toxic work environment” with “poor management” as the reason for her departure.
The Miss Universe Organization is the parent company of the Miss USA Organization, and their pageants are sisters.
Both Miss USA 2024 Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2024 UmaSofia Srivastava (seen together) announced they would be resigning their titles within days of each other
The announcements sent shockwaves through the beauty industry, especially after fans noticed that the first letter of each sentence of Noelia’s statement read “I AM SILENCED.”
The Miss USA winner will be eligible to compete in the Miss Universe competition a few months into her reign.
Officially, Miss Universe claims it is ‘The Greatest Celebration of All Women’.
“The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is a global, inclusive organization that celebrates all cultures, backgrounds and religions,” the organization said.
“We create and provide a safe space for women to share their stories and create impact personally, professionally and philanthropically.”
But for several years now, contestants have been coming forward to share their experiences that contradict Miss Universe’s inclusive mission.
In 1957, Mary Leona Gage, of Texas, was crowned Miss USA, but her title was later revoked after officials discovered she was secretly married with two children.
Miss Universe 1996 Alicia Machado, from Venezuela, was reportedly told by officials that she would be replaced if she did not lose weight.
Donald Trump – who became part owner of the pageants that year – even called her “an eating machine” and “Miss Piggy” on Howard Stern’s radio show at the time.
Donald Trump – who became co-owner of the pageants in 1996 – called Miss Universe 1996 Alicia Machado “an eating machine” and “Miss Piggy” on Howard Stern’s radio show
Siera Bearchell, who represented Canada at Miss Universe in 2017, told Elle that she was “told that she had to ‘lose a certain amount of weight’ to have the potential to win the competition,” which led to her “eating limited’ in the lead to.
“I was never happy with the way I looked or what I was told to do,” she said. ‘I was told to eat as little as possible… I couldn’t even train at the level I was supposed to because I literally had no fuel for my body.
‘Some days I would eat a single protein bar – half in the morning and the other half later, and do hours of training. I was told, “If you want to be successful, you have to do this.”
Additionally, following her 2021 win, Miss USA Elle Smith implored the organization to highlight “all body types.”
“At Miss USA, we’ve been so inclusive of different ethnicities and different races, but more or less we’re all very similar,” she said Insider.
“I think if we want to be representative of women as a whole, we need to be more inclusive of all body types.”
But being crowned the winner comes with enormous pressure, which tragically led to one woman taking her own life.
Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst jumped to her death from the 29th floor of her New York City apartment building in January 2022 at the age of 30 – just three years after becoming the oldest woman to ever hold the Miss USA title.
MailOnline has contacted the Miss Universe Organization for comment.