Miss Universe power struggle: What's happening between MUO, Nawat Itsaragrisil, and MU East?

A public dispute has erupted within the Miss Universe Organization over who has the authority to speak for and make decisions on behalf of the global pageant.

At the center of the dispute are the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), Nawat Itsaragrisil, and Miss Universe Eastern (MU East), one of the entities involved in the ownership of the company behind the Miss Universe brand.

Here’s what happened:

How did the dispute begin?

The issue came to public attention after Itsaragrisil, who is also a Miss Universe franchise holder, raised questions during a TikTok live about financial transactions involving the Miss Universe Organization and the upcoming 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico.

Itsaragrisil said he had reviewed documents that raised questions about certain transactions and called for greater transparency.

He has denied calling for the cancellation of the Puerto Rico pageant, saying his concerns were about protecting the host country and addressing what he described as potential governance and reputational risks.

What did the Miss Universe Organization say?

In a September 8 statement, MUO said Itsaragrisil has no employment, corporate, executive, operational, or legal position within the organization and therefore has no authority to speak on its behalf.

MUO said his only recognized relationship with the organization is as a Miss Universe franchise holder, a status it said is separate from the organization's management and governance. His franchise-holder status is also currently under review.

MUO further said MU East has no recognized legal, contractual, or commercial relationship that gives it authority over MUO.

The organization urged national directors, delegates, partners, sponsors and the public to disregard statements made by individuals it said have no recognized authority to represent MUO.

MUO also said the 75th Miss Universe pageant will proceed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with no plans to cancel or postpone the event.

So, where does MU East come in?

The dispute is complicated by the ownership structure of JKN Universe LLC, the company doing business as the Miss Universe Organization.

According to MU East, JKN Universe LLC has a 50:50 ownership structure through JKN Legacy Inc., with the interests divided between Miss Universe Eastern (MU East) and Miss Universe Western (MU West).

MU East said the September 8 MUO statement was not reviewed nor approved by its side and that it disagreed with the claims made about its business arrangements and Itsaragrisil’s role.

It said Itsaragrisil was duly appointed CEO of MU East on July 30, 2026, and that it recognizes him in that capacity as well as a Miss Universe franchise holder.

What does Itsaragrisil say?

In a September 9 statement, Itsaragrisil pushed back against MUO's characterization of his role.

He said he never claimed to be the sole representative of MUO or JKN Universe LLC and argued that his authority comes from his formal corporate appointment and the governance and contractual framework of MU East.

"My authority is not derived from the personal authority of any individual. It derives from my formal corporate appointment and from the contractual and governance framework under which Miss Universe Eastern operates," he said.

Itsaragrisil also maintained that his concerns about Puerto Rico were based on documents he had reviewed.

"I did not speak without a basis. I spoke because I had documents before me that I believed required serious questions to be asked," he said.

What about Anne Jakrajutatip?

Former Miss Universe CEO Jakkaphong "Anne" Jakrajutatip was mentioned in the dispute because of her previous connection to the organization.

MUO said Jukrajutatip currently has no active operational role or authority within the organization. It also referenced legal issues involving her in Thailand.

Itsaragrisil, meanwhile, said his authority as MU East CEO does not come from Anne personally but from his formal corporate appointment.

What's the main disagreement?

At its core, the dispute is about corporate authority and governance.

• MUO's position: Itsaragrisil is only recognized as a franchise holder and has no authority to speak for or act on behalf of MUO. It also does not recognize MU East as having authority over MUO.
• MU East's position: The company behind Miss Universe has a 50:50 ownership structure, and MU East recognizes Itsaragrisil as its duly appointed CEO.
• Itsaragrisil’s position: His authority comes from his corporate appointment within MU East, not from Jukrajutatip, and he is standing by his calls for transparency over the Puerto Rico transactions.

—CDC, GMA News