A former president of the Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) has threatened a defamation lawsuit against the former owner of the Miss Universe brand, Anne Jakrajutatip, for allegedly implying that she was involved in corruption and took “under the table” payments to secure placements in the Miss Universe pageant.
Paula Shugart said in her Instagram post that, since her resignation from the MUO in November last year, she has sought to stay out of the spotlight and has refrained from commenting on any of the changes in the organisation.
She also said, however, that the recent accusation made by Anne has compelled her to break her silence and to consideraction to protect her reputation and credibility. She also said that the accusation, which implies that Miss Universe titles could be “bought”, has degraded the brand and all the title holders.
Shugart said she has no intention of engaging in a drama on social media and is now considering her legal options in Thailand to protect her name and to claim compensation.
