Resurfaced Video Allegedly Shows Miss Universe Co-Owner Saying Diverse Contestants 'Cannot Win': Report

The leaked footage is reportedly from a board meeting that took place in November 2023

• The alleged footage appears to show Miss Universe co-owner Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip saying that diverse contestants "cannot win"

• The footage of the meeting was given to media by Rodrigo Goytortua Ortega, who is the former CEO of Miss Universe Mexico, and was present at the meeting

• Jakrajutatip posted a lengthy response on Facebook denouncing the allegations, called out Ortega and wrote that the video had been maliciously “edited” to “manipulate”

In light of the heightened attention surrounding the pageant world following the double resignations of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, footage has resurfaced of the Miss Universe co-owner allegedly stating that the inclusion of diverse contestants is merely for show.

In the leaked footage obtained and published by Vox on Wednesday, May 29, Miss Universe co-owner Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip is heard, during a board meeting in November 2023, referring to diverse pageant competitors while noting that despite their ambition for the crown, they simply “cannot win” because they don’t fit the mold of Miss Universe.

“The trans women, the women with husbands, divorced women ... this is a communication strategy, because, you understand ... they can compete but they cannot win. We just put the policy out there. Social inclusion, as people would say,” Jakrajutatip, who is a transgender woman and a mother, appeared to say in the footage.

The conversation continued, with Jakrajutatip allegedly adding her outlook on contestants with various body types. “We can have a casting for models of all different colors, sizes, whatever. Very big size … (But) we'll have to control the audience (lest) they vote all for the big size," she said.

The footage of the meeting was given to Vox by Rodrigo Goytortua Ortega, who is the former CEO of Miss Universe Mexico, and was present at the meeting.

In a lengthy response posted to Facebook on Feb. 26, Jakrajutatip denounced the claims made in the alleged video, called out Ortega and wrote that the video had been maliciously “edited” to “manipulate.” 

Related: 60-Year-Old Lawyer Makes History by Being Crowned Miss Universe Buenos Aires

“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. I hope the world would not go round by this nonsense soap opera alike. I still don’t comprehend why this man, who I was so nice to him, would like to jeopardize me and the organization while we were talking about one of the new reality show episodes not the pageantry itself,” Jakrajutatip wrote.

“I’m a trans woman and a mother myself who all my life fight for the gender equality rights to be where I am,” she added.

In response to the leak, on May 30, the Miss Universe organization released a statement originally dated Feb. 23. Like Jakrajutatip, they asserted that the leak was part of a malicious smear campaign.

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"In light of recent misinformation and attempts to smear the Miss Universe Organization, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the core values we have diligently defended over the years," the organization said in the statement.

"The Miss Universe Organization has worked tirelessly to promote inclusion, transparency, and integrity, and we will not be swayed by unfounded allegations. We have been informed of malicious attempts by certain individuals to tarnish the reputation of our organization by spreading false accusations,” the statement continued.

PEOPLE has reached out to Jakrajutatip for comment. When reached for comment, the Miss Universe organization referred us to their statement.

Related: Miss Universe Indonesia Contestants Allege They Were Asked by Organizers to Strip for Topless 'Body Checks'

On May 30, a day after the alleged video was resurfaced by Vox, former Miss USA Noelia Voigt, who officially resigned from her title earlier this month, demanded to be released from the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) she signed so that she is able to tell her side of the story regarding why she stepped down for her title.

“I am constrained by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and would like to emphatically assert that, following the unauthorized circulation of my resignation letter, [Miss USA President and CEO] Laylah Roses' assertions in her recent statement that contradict my experience after three weeks of unanswered resignation notification are unequivocally inaccurate. I strongly encourage her to waive our NDA to enable me to speak," Voigt, 24, wrote on Instagram.

Voigt’s request came hours after an “open letter” was released regarding the wave of resignations. The open letter followed allegations that the Miss USA organization fostered an environment that included bullying, sexual harassment and an overall toxic environment.

"We are very disappointed to hear the recent false allegations made by individuals speaking on behalf of our former titleholder. We cannot and will not address every falsehood, but I will address a few here. The allegations of sexual harassment, toxic environment and bullying are not true," Rose said, per the open letter.

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