The Miss Universe Organisation finds itself embroiled in unprecedented controversy as both co-owners face separate arrest warrants just days after this year's tumultuous pageant concluded in Thailand.
Dual Legal Crises for Pageant Owners
Thai media mogul Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip failed to appear in court this week for a fraud case, prompting a Thai judge to issue an arrest warrant and deem her a flight risk. The case involves allegations from a plastic surgeon who claims Jakkaphong concealed crucial information while persuading them to invest in her company, JKN Global Group.
Simultaneously, Mexican authorities revealed that Raúl Rocha Cantú, who owns the other half of the Miss Universe Organisation, is under investigation for drug, gun and fuel trafficking between Guatemala and Mexico. The attorney general's office confirmed arrest orders had been issued for 13 people, including "Raúl R, about whom there have been various public reports".
Chaotic Pageant Background
These legal developments represent the latest dramatic twists in what was already one of the most controversial Miss Universe competitions in recent memory. The November event featured multiple scandals including onstage injuries, dramatic walkouts and allegations of vote rigging.
The controversy began when Fátima Bosch, then Miss Mexico, went viral after staging a walkout when the pageant director called her "dumb" for failing to post promotional content. The incident prompted a tearful apology from the director and support from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who described Bosch as "an example of how we women should speak out".
Vote Rigging Allegations and Business Ties
Bosch's eventual victory over crowd favourite Miss Thailand was immediately clouded by vote rigging allegations. Two of the eight judges quit days before the final, with one suggesting the competition was fixed while the other cited "unforeseen personal reasons".
Further complicating matters, Mexican media reported business ties between Rocha and Pemex, the Mexican state oil company where Bosch's father has worked for decades. Both Rocha and Bosch's father have denied any personal business connections between them.
At a recent press conference, President Sheinbaum continued to defend Bosch, stating: "[Any investigation of Rocha] is independent of the young woman who won the competition. They want to connect them, but they are different. They want to detract from her achievement."
The whereabouts of Jakkaphong remain unknown following her failure to appear in court, while Rocha maintains his innocence, telling El País: "It is completely false that I have an arrest warrant" before authorities confirmed the investigation's existence.
