Menaye Donkor Drops The Miss Universe Ghana Franchise; Other Nations Also Sever Ties With The Pageant

CEO of MALZ Promotion and organizer of Miss Universe Ghana, Menaye Donkor has recently dropped the Miss Universe Franchise.

According to an official letter posted on instagram by MALZ Promotion “The new and sudden implementation of the Miss Universe business model under the JKN Global Group’s leadership are not aligned with Malz Promotions’ brand objective and would hence like to discontinue the relationship with Miss Universe,” Claimed by the executive Menaye Donkor-Muntari. See the full letter below.

MISS UNIVERSE OWNERSHIP

Miss Universe is one of the longest-running and most-watched beauty competitions in the world; it is broadcast in 165 countries and seen by more than half a billion people annually. Miss Universe has changed ownership a number of times since the first pageant was held in 1952. Former US president Donald Trump bought it in 1996 and sold it to global events and talent company IMG in 2015.

Thai transvestite and millionaire Anne Jakrajutatip, whose JKN Global Group acquired the 71-year-old beauty competition last year for a reported $20 million. According to Anne, the “drama” was because “something got lost in translation and information”.

She acquired rights to the pageant last year from where her company made some changes.

MISS UNIVERSE CHANGES

From here on, organisations that wish to host national competitions to select Miss Universe representatives and their national directors must now submit a bid annually. Removing the fixed licence, every organization will have to bid for the licence every year.

“In the application, you will be asked for your highest bid for the opportunity to hold the Miss Universe licence. Please be advised that proposed licence fees deemed not aligned with the market value in your region will be rejected,” a memo shared online reads.

Pageant fans said the new rules would mean that organisations that have had a long relationship with the Miss Universe Organisation were no longer assured of the right to host the event, and that any alternative organization could acquire it simply by paying more.

There were also concerns that the move would start a bidding war, with the rights to host the contest going to the deepest pockets, and not necessarily to entities who have the contestants’ best interest.

According to one of the national directors, the license to host a Miss Universe pageant can cost anywhere between $100,000 to $400,000 a year.

MORE COUNTRIES SEVER TIES

MALZ Promotion of Miss Universe Ghana is not the only country host to withdraw from the new rules. Other country directors such as Mauritius, Seychelles, Belize also pulled out.

In the letter addressed to Miss Universe and shared by pageant site Sash Factor, Rupear said “bidding is not for me”.

“I am worth so much more than someone else bidding more to overtake all the hard work my team and I have put in since 2016. This cannot be quantified,” he said.