Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, co-owner of the Miss Universe pageant and prominent Thai celebrity, is facing serious legal troubles after failing to appear in a Bangkok court on November 21, 2023. The Bangkok South District Court deemed her a flight risk, as she did not notify the court of her absence. The court has rescheduled the hearing for December 26, 2023.
The allegations against Jakkaphong and her company, JKN Global Group Public Co Ltd, stem from a lawsuit filed by Raweewat Maschamadol. He claims that he was defrauded when he purchased corporate bonds from JKN in 2023, leading to a significant financial loss of 30 million baht (approximately $A1.4 million). Since early 2023, JKN has struggled financially, defaulting on payments to investors and initiating debt rehabilitation procedures with the Central Bankruptcy Court in 2024. The company’s debts are reported to total around three billion baht.
In 2022, JKN acquired the rights to the Miss Universe pageant from IMG Worldwide LLC. The following year, it sold 50 percent of its shares in the pageant to Legacy Holding Group USA, owned by Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantu.
Jakkaphong, who identifies as a transgender woman, resigned from all positions within JKN in June 2023 after the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission accused her of falsifying the company’s financial statements for that year. Despite her resignation, she remains the largest shareholder in the company. Her current whereabouts are unclear, and she did not attend the 74th Miss Universe competition, which took place in Bangkok earlier this month.
The competition, held on November 19, 2025, faced issues, including controversy surrounding an alleged outburst from a Thai organizer directed at Fatima Bosch Fernandez, who was crowned Miss Universe 2025. Reports indicate that two judges withdrew from the event, with claims of potential rigging surfacing. Additionally, Thai police are investigating allegations that the event’s publicity included illegal promotions for online casinos.
On November 20, 2023, JKN publicly denied rumors suggesting that Jakkaphong had liquidated the company’s assets and fled Thailand. The company has not yet commented on the arrest warrant issued against her. Attempts to reach Jakkaphong for comment have been unsuccessful.
Jakkaphong is a well-known figure in Thailand, recognized for her roles in various reality shows and her advocacy for transgender rights. As this situation unfolds, it raises questions about the future of both her business ventures and the Miss Universe pageant.
