Miss U owner Anne Jakrajutatip to reigning queen R’Bonney Gabriel: ‘I’m proud of you!’

MUO owner Anne Jakrajutatip (right) and reigning Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel. Image: X/@annejknofficial

MANILA, Philippines — Anne Jakrajutatip, the Thai media mogul who owns the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), waxed sentimental as the international pageant’s 72nd edition rolled out over the weekend.

The chief executive officer of Bangkok-based JKN Global Group posted a photo of her and reigning Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel on the microblogging site X (formerly Twitter), and said, “First shot together after coronation night in New York with my First Universe Queen of JKN Era! [red heart emoji]”

Jakrajutatip announced her full acquisition of MUO in October 2022, including all the three pageants under it – Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA – making her the first woman and first non-American to own the organization.

The first Miss Universe edition under her ownership was the 71st installment held in New Orleans in the United States in January, where Gabriel, a Filipino-American sustainable fashion designer and advocate, became the ninth winner from the United States.

“I will always love and honor your intelligence as [a] motivational public speaker, dedication as [a] model, and talent of being [a] sustainable fashion designer. I’m proud of you!” Jakrajutatip said of her reigning queen.

First Shot together after coronation night in New York with my First Universe Queen of JKN Era! ❤️ I will always love and honor your intelligence as the motivational public speaker, dedication as model and talent of being sustainable fashion designer. I’m proud of you! pic.twitter.com/VlZVoti683

— Anne Jakrajutatip 💫 แอน จักรพงษ์ (@annejknofficial) November 5, 2023

Over the weekend, the 2023 Miss Universe pageant has started welcoming delegates in San Salvador, El Salvador, including Michelle Marquez Dee from the Philippines, daughter of 1979 Miss International Melanie Marquez and cousin of 2017 Reina Hispanoamericana Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez.

Dee will not only attempt to become the fifth Filipino woman to be crowned Miss Universe, but also try to reclaim the Philippines’ status as a powerhouse in the global tilt after her predecessor Celeste Cortesi broke the country’s 12-year placement streak that started in 2010.

The current Filipino delegate brings with her a wealth of experience as a professional model, actress, host, and pageant veteran. She was crowned Miss World Philippines in 2019 and represented the country in the 2019 Miss World pageant in London where she finished in the Top 12. She was also proclaimed as Miss Universe Philippines-Tourism in 2022, before capturing the main title in May this year.

She is currently leading in the “Voice for Change” poll with her platform on autism awareness, stemming from her personal experience as a sister to two brothers in the autism spectrum. And while Dee is campaigning to sustain her spot in the advocacy race, she is also among the top delegates in the online fan voting. Filipinos all over the world my help her secure a spot in the semifinals if she leads the poll.

Dee will compete against 84 other delegates from around the world to become Gabriel’s successor. The winner will be crowned at the culmination of the final show at the Jose Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador on November 18 (November 19 in Manila).

To date, the Philippines has posted four victories in the Miss Universe pageant, courtesy of Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margie Moran in 1973, Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, and Catriona Gray in 2018.