New scandal at Miss Universe: Nawat Itsaragrisil will leave if he doesn't become the owner of the competition

Another bombshell has dropped in the world of beauty pageants. While Miss Universe continues to fuel controversy, Nawat Itsaragrisil, a well-known figure in the industry, has announced that he will end all collaboration with the organization if he does not become the new owner of the competition. This bold statement comes after the failure of negotiations held in New York to try and buy the brand.

Miss Universe 2025 entirely organized by Nawad

For those who didn't know, Miss Universe 2025 was organized entirely by Nawat Itsaragrisil, who also owns Miss Grand. This is one of the reasons why the 2025 edition offered such a particularly impressive spectacle.

The audience was treated to a superb show, described by some as the most spectacular in the history of Miss Universe. This is, of course, setting aside the cheating scandals denounced by the former jury member. Omar Harfouchwho had resigned, unwilling to condone conflicts of interest and corruption. The production was distinguished by a mega-stage, excellent lighting, a huge catwalk, and spectacular staging overall. These elements were made possible by Nawat Itsaragrisil.

A player already well established in the world of competitions

Nawat Itsaragrisil didn't just organize Miss Universe 2025. He also owns Miss Universe Thailand. In addition, he held a position within the Miss Universe organization, described as a provincial director role in Asia, or an equivalent responsibility.

This multi-level presence in the beauty pageant ecosystem explained her growing involvement with the Miss Universe brand.

Negotiations in New York to buy Miss Universe

But today, the situation seems to have taken a dramatic turn. Nawat Itsaragrisil has declared that this collaboration is over. He revealed that he has been conducting negotiations in New York with the aim of buying Miss Universe, which was previously co-owned by Raul Rocha and Anne Jakapong, both of whom are facing charges of money laundering, fraud, drug trafficking, and arms trafficking. For the first time, he has publicly confirmed his intention to buy the pageant.

However, during a new live broadcast on TikTok, he stated that the discussions had not resulted in an agreement. According to him, his proposal was not accepted. In other words, the current owners of Miss Universe were unwilling to sell him the organization.

“If I don’t become the owner, I’d rather never work with them again.”

Following this setback, Nawat Itsaragrisil took an unambiguous stance. He stated that if he did not become the owner of Miss Universe in order to revive the brand, he preferred to say goodbye to the organization and never work with it again.

This stance marks a clear break. It suggests that, in his opinion, the only way to revitalize Miss Universe would be for him to take control of it himself.

Another blow for an already weakened brand

This announcement reignites questions about the current state of Miss Universe. Between internal tensions, changes in governance, and repeated controversies, the brand seems to be continuing to sink deeper into a period of instability.

The announced departure of Nawat Itsaragrisil, who nevertheless played a central role in the organization of Miss Universe 2025 and in the visual success of the event, could represent a new turning point for the competition.