The New Miss Universe Leadership

Meet the four people that will head the Miss Universe organization in its new era under the JKN Global ownership.

Upon the announcement of the new ownership of the Miss Universe pageant last October 26th, new leadership has since taken place. So let’s get to meet them in this article.

OWNER, Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip

She is the Chief Executive Officer of JKN Global Group Public Company Limited and a Thai businesswoman. She founded the Life Inspired For Transsexual Foundation (LIFT) to promote transgender people’s possibilities and right to dignity. Jakrajutatip, better known as Anne JKN, paid $20 million in October 2022 to acquire the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA beauty pageants.

She was born in Bangkok as the eldest daughter of a Thai-Chinese family. Her family own a video rental business. She grew up liking movies, especially foreign ones which in turn made her appreciate and practice English on her own.

After getting her father’s approval to go to Australia for college, she studied at Bond University with degree in international relations. She also went to Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok for a certificate in real estate development. In 2016, she also finished the Thai Institute of Directors Association’s Director Accreditation Program (DAP).

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, Amy Emmerich

Amy’s LinkedIn profile details her bio below:

Amy Emmerich is a visionary media executive with a track record of innovation, leadership, and Emmy-winning original content across multiple platforms. She was most recently the Global President & Chief Content Officer at Refinery29, the leading digital lifestyle media company for women. She crafted a powerful vision for the brand; then diversified it across multiple new business lines resulting in a successful acquisition for the company by Vice Media. Over her 25-year career, she’s been a champion for underrepresented voices, including spearheading Refinery29’s Shatterbox short-film series for women filmmakers. She has experience developing content and programming for brands including HBO, MTV Networks, Travel Channel, and Vice Media. An award-winning producer with exceptional business acumen who is proven to build, grow and lead.

Emmerich has been a featured speaker at a myriad of conferences and recognized with numerous awards including three Emmy wins during her tenure at MTV.  She is also a 2017 NYWIFT Muse Award Recipient, 2016 & 2017 Variety Power of Women NY, Campaign’s 2019 40 over 40 and Variety’s one of 12 Digital Innovators to Watch in 2020.  Emmerich is currently advising several start ups and lives in NYC with her husband and children, Emzy & Flash. 

PRESIDENT, Paula Shugart

Paula is a graduate of the Ohio University with a degree in communications which she earned summa cum laude for. She became Vice President of the Miss Universe organization in 1998 before becoming the President in 2001 to present. She has been with the MUO for 24 years and counting.

The competition has evolved under the leadership of Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, into a potent, year-round, multinational organization that promotes and supports opportunities for women as well as charitable projects around the globe. She has held the position of Commissioner to Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Latin Media and Entertainment Commission and is currently an active member of both the Producers Guild of America and the Director’s Guild of America. She most recently became a member of the Kennedy School of Government’s Women’s Leadership Board.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, Tawn Chatchavalvong

Meet the new Creative Director of Miss Universe, Tawn Chatchavalvong. Below is his bio on his website…

He is director, producer of The Project Runway Thailand. He majored in political science, lived abroad, and spent most of a decade in the field of public relations, then decided to pursue his passion. After his studies at a fashion school in Italy, Tawn’s work began to appear in print, online and on the runway.

As a first finalist in the inaugural edition of Vogue "Who's On Next" (The first Asian adaptation of the competition in 2014, Tawn regularly appears in featured fashion posts, the designs regularly appear in celebrities and influencers style naysayers on social media. In 2016, he received a Pyramid of Excellence Award from the Italian Academy of Fashion Institute, which is a recognition award given to people of art, fashion and design with strength in creative works. is the first Thai designer to receive the award after big fashion names such as Vivienne Westwood, Carla Fendi and Roberto Capucci.

Tawn is about empowering women to be who they want to be, to present the side of themselves they want to highlight. tanned c. offers a modern take on classic designs, with good quality materials, excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Let us know your thoughts on the new Miss Universe Organization leadership on the comment section below…

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