No, Anne Jakrajutatip Isn't Leaving Miss Universe—She's Still CEO

Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz about Anne Jakrajutatip stepping down from her position as CEO of the Miss Universe Organization. But if you've seen those headlines, don’t believe them just yet. The organization itself has set the record straight, and Anne is still very much in charge.

On June 7, 2025, the Miss Universe Organization posted an official statement to shut down the rumors. They made it clear that there’s been no leadership shakeup. Anne Jakrajutatip remains CEO, and Raúl Rocha Cantú continues as president. The statement called the circulating claims "entirely false" and reminded the public to only trust updates coming from their verified platforms.

So where did all the confusion come from?

The rumors started gaining traction after Anne resigned from her executive and board positions at her other company, JKN Global Group, on June 6. That move came shortly after the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges against her for alleged financial misconduct. That development sparked speculation that she was also stepping down from her role in Miss Universe, but that’s not the case.

For context, Anne took over the Miss Universe pageant in October 2022 when her company bought it for $20 million. Since then, she’s been working to modernize and globalize the brand. In early 2024, she brought in Raúl Rocha as co-owner and president. He acquired 50% of the organization through his own company and then teamed up with JKN to form a new joint venture, JKN Legacy Inc.

More recently, in April 2025, another big name joined the mix. Nawat Itsaragrisil, who founded Miss Grand International, was appointed executive director of MUO after securing the rights to organize Miss Universe Thailand.

Despite the noise, the organization remains focused on its goal: empowering women through its global platform. And with the 74th Miss Universe pageant set for November 21 in Thailand, they’ve got big plans. Contestants will take part in events around Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket throughout an entire month leading up to the big night.

So while corporate reshuffling might be happening elsewhere, Miss Universe is staying the course, with Anne Jakrajutatip still leading the way.