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Issues surrounding Miss Universe Thailand director loom over 74th MU
The Freeman
|November 06, 2025
- Power struggle? -
This marks the third controversy involving Itsaragrisil since Miss Universe 2025 began its official activities.
Aside from being the national director of MUT, which he acquired earlier this year, the Thai businessman and media personality is also the founder of Miss Grand International, which just recently crowned a Filipina, Emma Mary Tiglao, as its latest winner.
A “Special Dinner and Talk Show” event organized by MUT was declared “unauthorized” by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), calling it a violation of intellectual property. MUT countered that it had grounds to hold the event, claiming it was part of the official marketing package as Thailand serves as the host country.
Thai police also launched an investigation into MUO officials after Itsaragrisil filed a complaint accusing them of making candidates appear in a promotion for an online casino, which is illegal in Thailand.
These controversies, coupled with news that Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantú purchased a 50% stake in Miss Universe from Anne Jakrajutatip’s JKN Global Group, have fueled a possible power struggle within the organization ahead of the awaited Nov. 21 coronation in Bangkok.
This story is from the November 06, 2025 edition of The Freeman.
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