(From left) Catriona Gray and Anne Jakrajutatip. Image: Instagram/@catriona_gray, Instagram/@annejkn.official
Catriona Gray took a stronger stance after she called for the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) to take “accountability” for its owner Anne Jakrajutatip‘s leaked video and prove that its effort to push for inclusivity is not a “mere token” for candidates to feel included.
Jakrajutatip was the brunt of criticism in February 2024 after she was caught on video seemingly undermining MUO’s efforts to promote inclusivity by calling them a “communication strategy.” The Thai business mogul would eventually claim the video was “manipulated” to tarnish the pageant brand’s reputation.
In an interview with entertainment journalist MJ Marfori via Tiktok last March 14, the 2018 Miss Universe titleholder hoped the MUO would prove to the pageant community that inclusivity shouldn’t be seen as a “token thing,” and set a tone for other “pageant systems.”
“I just hope that the brand would really take accountability and show that it is not just a token for the pageant community to feel included just for the sake of it,” Gray said. “I hope they would embrace them and [set the tone] for other pageant systems that inclusivity is not a token thing.”
The beauty queen pointed out that inclusivity “needs to be praised,” although she admitted that she’s aware that not all her fellow titleholders would “agree” with her opinion.
“It’s something that needs to be praised. Not all pageant titleholders agree, but I love the topic of inclusivity. I always believe in the platform of pageantry, and why we should have these platforms so women would not just fit in a certain shape, perception, or beauty which is ever-changing in our society,” she said.
Gray, however, clarified that she “doesn’t know” what actions were taken since the leaked video. Despite this, she remained firm in her hope for the MUO to take responsibility.
“I don’t know what actions were taken since that video was taken. [I hope] accountability was taken and hopefully, in the ongoing competitions, it won’t just follow this inclusive token. [I hope] we see the authenticity and what inclusivity means to the brand,” she said.
While the MUO has yet to address the leaked video, the pageant brand attested to Jakrajutatip’s “transparency and integrity” in her word war with former MUO president Paula Shugart.
Shugart announced in February 2024 that she was eyeing legal action against Jakrajutatip for claiming the former took the money “under the table” to ensure the win of past titleholders.
