(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) During the recent Miss Universe competition, new owner Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip made a speech celebrating that women now run the competition, despite the fact that Jakrajutatip is a biological male.
According to BizPak Review, Jakrajutatip—who identifies as a transgender woman—indicated that in coming years, the Miss Universe competition will “celebrate the power of feminism,” “social inclusion,” and “gender equality.”
What is going on at Miss Universe… pic.twitter.com/7fPFEldKTh
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) January 15, 2023
“From now on its going to be run by women, owned by trans women, for all women,” Jakrajutatip. “[The pageant] will be… a force for good and enforce the beauty of humanity.”
Several critics pointed out that Jakrajutatip is clearly a man.
“That’s a man, not a woman,” one Twitter user said in a post. “How can a man become ‘miss’ universe.”
“His/her/its/their/ voice is repulsive,” another user wrote. “I don’t understand why these people need to inject themselves in this specific competition, they can easily start their own and leave us alone.”
“That’s a man. Keep it simple ladies,” user Marie responded. “that’s a man taking away more and more of what women fought to have. A woman can’t even be Miss Universe anymore—I decline that notion.”
Reporter Jack Posobiec took some heat from the left for posting the video, and his name was soon trending with keywords “Miss Universe” and “Bigot.”
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) January 15, 2023
Jakrajutatip previously worked as the CEO of JKN Global Group PCL and is a consistent star on Thailand versions of popular reality TV shows, including Project Runway. The mogul purchased the Miss Universe competition in October.
“A Thai media tycoon and transgender rights advocate has bought the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million, according to [JKN Global Group], which will now host the international beauty pageant,” CNN reported.
Mainstream media outlets including CNN, Axios, NBC and Yahoo celebrated the $20 million purchase, fawning over the “first woman owner” of the group.