Beauty Pageants

[GeneChing]

Miss Universe’s Thai owner breaks silence on leaked video belittling inclusivity, says clip was ‘manipulated’
Thai transgender activist Jakapong Jakrajutatip has blamed an unnamed person for the ‘unlawful act’, saying the edited clip was used to tarnish her reputation
Jakapong says she does not know why the unnamed person ‘would jeopardise me and the organisation’, and insists she is a staunch proponent of gender equality rights
SCMP’s Asia desk
Published: 4:43pm, 28 Feb, 2024



Thai transgender activist and Miss Universe Organisation owner Jakapong Jakrajutatip has broken her silence on a video in which she belittled efforts to boost inclusivity at the beauty pageant, saying the clip was “manipulated” to tarnish her reputation.

Jakapong reportedly said the decision to remove the age limit and allow transwomen, mothers and married women to take part in the event was a “communication strategy”.

“This is a communication strategy because they can compete, but they cannot win,” she said in the video that was leaked online and widely circulated on social media.


Jakapong Jakrajutatip during the Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 14, 2023. Photo: AFP
Jakapong, who bought the platform for US$20 million in 2022, blamed an unnamed person for the “unlawful act”, adding the brand’s supporters believed in our “core value of promoting diversity” and would not be fooled by the controversy.

“The malicious edited video was out of context and used to manipulate other people which led to the public confusion, misunderstanding, misinterpretation and wrong conclusion,” she said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

“I still don’t comprehend why this man, who I was so nice to, would jeopardise me and the organisation while we were talking about one of the new reality show episodes, not the pageantry itself.”

Jakapong is a celebrity in Thailand, starring in local versions of reality shows Project Runway and Shark Tank.

Acknowledging that she identifies as a transwoman and mother, Jakapong also said she was a staunch proponent of gender equality rights.

“Why do I have to live my life up against what I believe? God gave me the purpose to live, to inspire and to spread kindness. I do have the strength to forgive this man and show the desire to the universe that love is what we need in this world,” she said.

Thai media company JKN Global Group, run by Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, that owns the Miss Universe beauty pageant brand said it has filed for bankruptcy: Photo: AFP
Jakapong, who is known for being Thailand’s first transgender CEO, runs the Life Inspired For Thailand Foundation that advocates for the rights to dignity and opportunities for transgender people.

But Nepali beauty queen Jane Garrett was not convinced by Jakapong’s explanation, alleging last year’s pageant was “rigged”.

“Honey, I knew it was rigged from the moment I was onstage. I realised us ‘inclusion’ girls weren’t ever gonna get a real chance to win,” Garrett, the first plus-sized woman to compete at Miss Universe, said on Instagram last week.

Some social media users criticised Jakapong for championing fake inclusivity, arguing the video could “wreck” the organisation.

Others rallied behind her, saying “all those slanderers would finally be defeated by their own malicious deeds”.

I love when someone prefaces a comment with "Honey"

[GeneChing]

Krystyna Pyszková of the Czech Republic crowned Miss World 2024
By Alex Rees, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 10:06 PM EDT, Sun March 10, 2024


Krystyna Pyszková of Czech Republic waves after being crowned as the new Miss World at the pageant in Mumbai, India on March 9. Rajanish Kakade/AP
CNN
—
Besting 111 of her fellow titleholders from across the globe, Krystyna Pyszková of the Czech Republic was crowned Miss World 2024 on Saturday in Mumbai, India, where the international pageant was held this year.

Across a series of events during the pageant’s preliminary competition, including fitness, beauty, talent and public speaking, several contestants won “fast track” places in the top 40, a cohort announced at the start of the show.


Krystyna Pyszková, the newly-crowned Miss World, models during the "Best Designer Award" contest at the 71st Miss World pageant preliminaries on March 2. Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters
From there, the field was quickly slashed to top 12 and then top eight, at which point the contestants participated in the classic Q&A round, addressing topics discussed at the most recent G20 Summit. Asked to shed light on an issue impacting women’s health care specifically, Pyszková, a 23-year-old law student and model, spoke about removing the stigma and shame surrounding menstruation, saying that “being a woman is a gift” and that periods should not be a taboo subject.
After one final cut, four contestants were left to “pitch their purpose” (or philanthropic platform) to a trio of business moguls from “Shark Tank India.” Each of these four finalists represented a different region of the world: Africa, the Americas and Caribbean, Asia and Oceania and Europe.
Pyszková’s victory came over these three runners-up — Yasmina Zeytoun of Lebanon, Aché Abrahams of Trinidad and Tobago and Lesego Chombo of Botswana. (These women, along with Jessica Gagen of England, are considered the pageant’s “continental winners.”)
Miss World is widely viewed as the oldest international beauty pageant, first founded in the United Kingdom in 1951 as a “bikini contest.” Perhaps its two best-known winners are both from India: the actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Miss World 1994) and Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Miss World 2000). Chopra Jonas appeared at the pageant in a video message, paying tribute to both Miss World owner Julia Morley and Nita Ambani, winner of the pageant’s Humanitarian Award.
Pyszková replaces the outgoing Miss World, Karolina Bielawska, of Poland, whose reign dates back to March 2022. (Due to scheduling issues, no Miss World pageant was held in 2023.)

Congrats to Krystyna!

[GeneChing]

Johor Unduk Ngadau queen stripped of crown over 'wild' holiday video
By SANDRA SOKIAL
SABAH & SARAWAK
Monday, 08 Apr 2024

5:09 PM MYT

KOTA KINABALU: TikToker turned beauty queen Viru Nikah Terinsip has been stripped of her title after her “wild”’ holiday video received public backlash.

The 24-year-old pageant winner, who won the Unduk Ngadau Johor title last year, has been stripped of her title by the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) despite apologising publicly through a 53-second long video posted on her TikTok account @_duyung.darat.

The matter was confirmed by KDCA president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who said such behaviour was uncalled for in a beauty queen that supposedly represents the spirit of Huminodun, a mythological maiden who has the total beauty of heart, mind and soul.

“We were made to understand that she went on a private holiday with her family to Thailand. We do silly things and get carried away when holidaying.

“If the video did not go viral, no one would know it happened.

“This would not be an issue if she was just an ordinary person, but she is an Unduk Ngadau (beauty queen), and a public figure. There were a lot of mixed reactions, some saw the humour in her video, some sympathised, others were unhappy and complained. We (KDCA) do not want to be the target and attract unnecessary attention.


Viru Nikah Terinsip was crowned Unduk Ngadau Johor last year. - Viru Nikah Terinsip's Facebook picture

“We hope that she will accept this decision well. Let this serve as a warning to all Unduk Ngadaus to not repeat the mistake,” he said.

Unduk Ngadau is a cultural beauty pageant that is one of the highlights of the Kaamatan (harvest) festival in Sabah.

In the video, Viru, was seen responding to several male dancers’ suggestive dance while holidaying in Thailand.

It was understood that KDCA central had proposed to KDCA Johor to strip Viru’s title following the controversial video.

Viru, who is a popular content creator and entrepreneur, in her apology video, indicated that she would humbly accept if her title is revoked, and apologised for her carelessness in posting such a video.

“I am thankful for all the beautiful words coming from netizens, and let’s focus on other issues and more forward.

“Most importantly, please leave my family and friends out as they are not involved in this matter. It is up to you whether you would accept (my explanation) or not, but this comes sincerely from my heart. Thank you for listening,” she said.

Kinda wanna see that vid, right?