Miss Universe organisers sought by police in Mexico and Thailand amid legal turmoil
Authorities in both Mexico and Thailand are pursuing arrest warrants for senior figures behind the Miss Universe beauty pageant as the organisation faces a series of legal challenges following its 2025 edition in Bangkok.
The legal actions come amid allegations of fraud, defamation and suspected links to organised crime connected to the contest’s leadership.
The controversy emerged after the coronation of Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, on 21 November, when accusations of irregularities in the competition’s outcome began to circulate, claims that have not been independently verified. Thai police are actively seeking co-owner Anne Jakrajutatip, who has been missing since a Bangkok court issued an arrest warrant in November on fraud charges related to alleged financial irregularities within JKN Global Group, the conglomerate that owns 50 per cent of Miss Universe.
Jakrajutatip’s absence from recent hearings has compounded the situation, and her company is set to be expelled from the Thai stock exchange on 27 December amid the ongoing legal proceedings. Meanwhile, Mexican authorities have also intensified their actions, with prosecutors reportedly seeking legal measures against Raúl Rocha Cantú, the organisation’s other co-owner, in connection with a separate investigation.
In addition to fraud allegations against Jakrajutatip, Thai police say they have formally received a defamation complaint concerning Bosch in Bangkok, demonstrating the broader judicial scrutiny surrounding the pageant. National and international observers have noted that the multiple legal fronts now facing the Miss Universe organisation illustrate the complex challenges that can arise when global entertainment brands intersect with legal, financial and regulatory systems across different jurisdictions.
The unfolding situation has also prompted organisational changes: Miss Universe has announced plans to relocate its headquarters from Mexico City to New York, citing legal uncertainty and operational concerns. The moves reflect broader implications for the pageant’s global operations, raising questions about governance and accountability within one of the world’s most recognised international competitions.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
