Miss Universe drama continues with 2 factions trading legitimacy claims

The drama revolving around the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is still not over, months after the international pageant community was rocked by the controversial victory of Mexico’s Fatima Bosch at the 74th edition of the competition held in November last year.

A statement signed by Carlos Guillermo Martinez, chief financial officer of JKN Universe LLC which owns MUO, disputes an earlier statement announcing the organization’s appointment of Nawat Itsaragrisil as CEO of “Miss Universe Eastern.”

Martinez’s statement, released from New York in the United States on Friday, Aug. 14, claimed that the Thai personality’s only involvement with MUO is as national director. “He holds no office, ownership interest, or corporate authority in [JKN Universe], and he has no authorization to speak or act on [JKN Universe’s] behalf.”

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A statement released earlier this month on the Miss Universe official website announced Nawat’s supposed appointment, effectively elevating him from his previous post as vice president for “Miss Universe Asiana.” The supposed appointment would have given him authority over 95 countries and territories within the region.

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An earlier statement also asserted that missuniverse.com remains as the only legitimate channel for the international pageant, but Martinez’s statement confirmed that the website is currently operated without MUO’s authorization, along with the associated Facebook and X (Twitter) accounts.

“Effective immediately, [MUO]’s official communications will be issued exclusively through its new website, missuniverseorg.com, which will also serve as the channel for verifying authorized representatives and any authorization to use [JKN Universe’s] marks,” Martinez’s statement read.

The statement added that JKN Universe did not authorize any recent communication from the missuniverse.com website, and should not be treated as official or binding on the company. It also disputed the supposed appointment of additional officers announced in the previous statement containing Nawat’s purported new position.

In the earlier statement, Monil Hathi was appointed as managing director and Pavan Misra as head of sales. But according to Martinez’s statement, they have never been appointed in such capacity, nor were they designated as JKN Universe’s authorized signatories.

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They had purportedly claimed to third parties that they are directors of an entity that has acquired the half of JKN Legacy that was previously held by JKN Global Group. Martinez’s statement claimed that no such transfer of stakes was authorized.

Martinez’s statement also clarified that Hathi and Misra are associated wtih Legacy Holding Group S.A. de C.V., which is an entity organized in El Salvador and “has no corporate, contractual, or other legal relationship with Legacy Holding Group USA Inc.”

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It added that Legacy Holding Group USA holds half of the JKN Legacy shares and that the El Salvadoran firm does not have any association or affiliation with JKN Universe and MUO. Martinez’s statement claimed that Hathi and Misra had already executed contracts “and other instruments” on behalf of JKN Universe.

JKN Universe said it did not authorize those contracts and instruments, and it disputes their validity and enforceability. Parties were advised to obtain written confirmation from the signing authority of the company.

JKN Universe said its authorized representatives are as follows:

Raúl Rocha Cantú – President, JKN Universe LLCRonald Day – Chief Executive Officer, Miss Universe Americana, LLCJosé Ángel Castillo – Vice President of Operations, JKN Universe LLCCarlos Guillermo Martinez – Chief Financial Officer, JKN Universe LLCSebastián Figueroa Berducido – Legal Director, Miss Universe Americana LLC / JKN Universe LLCMaría José Unda – Vice President of International Relations, JKN Universe LLC

Martinez’s statement also claimed that Hathi and Misra made publications pertaining to bank accounts, but that those are not JKN Universe’s authorized bank accounts. The company does not recognize transactions made on the accounts issued by the two, it said.

“[JKN Universe] rejects the unauthorized acts described in this notice and expressly reserves all rights and remedies available at law or in equity, in every relevant jurisdiction, against any person or entry responsible for, or participating in, those acts, including the individuals identified in this notice, Martinez’s statement continued.

But a statement released on the contested website missuniverse.com on Aug. 15 asserts the legitimacy of the previously announced appointments of Nawat, Hathi and Misra.

“[MUO] confirms that www.missuniverse.com and its verified global platforms remain the exclusive, authentic digital properties and official voice of the Miss Universe brand,” the more recent statement claimed.

“External websites claiming administrative authority, asserting changes in brand ownership, or issuing notices contrary to our official releases are unauthorized and have no legal standing to represent or bind [MUO],” the statement continued.

In asserting the supposed new roles of Hathi, Misra and Nawat, the statement also labeled as “factually inaccurate” the claim that Nawat’s involvement in MUO was limited to being a national director.

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It is already three months before the Miss Universe pageant is set to hold its 75th edition in Puerto Rico in November, and the bickering between what has emerged as two factions in the organization has just begun. /ra