Ari Emanuel’s talent agency WME/IMG has acquired The Miss Universe Organization from Donald Trump, for an undisclosed amount.
The agency made the announcement on Twitter on Monday morning.
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WME | IMG has acquired The Miss Universe Organization, which includes MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA®, and MISS TEEN USA®: pic.twitter.com/73KNDsmhMM
— IMG (@IMG) September 14, 2015
The sell comes 3 days after the presidential candidate announced on Twitter he had acquired NBCUniversal’s half in The Miss Universe, and had become the sole owner of the beauty pageant organization.
Just purchased NBC’s half of The Miss Universe Organization and settled all lawsuits against them. Now own 100% — stay tuned!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2015
NBCUniversal’s NBC and Spanish-language broadcaster Univision networks refused to air the Miss USA pageant after Trump made controversial statements about Mexican immigrants during a campaign speech.
WME/IMG, which was formed in 2013 by the merger of Ari Emanuel’s talent agencies William Morris Endeavor Entertainment and Patrick Whitesell’s IMG Worldwide, said the deal expands its portfolio of global events and media properties.
IMG has served as executive producers of the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants in the past.
“Having worked closely with The Miss Universe Organization in the past, we understand the incredible potential of the events and the star-quality of the participants, ” said WME/IMG Chief Content Officer Mark Shapiro. “The global reach of The Miss Universe Organization and the content opportunities presented by the pageants make this a strong, strategic addition to our portfolio.”
“I have truly enjoyed owning the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants, ” Trump said in a statement. “When I purchased the pageants many years ago, they were in serious trouble. It has been a great honor making them so successful…The pageants are now in the hands of a great company that will shepherd them to even greater levels of success.”
Donald Trump has just sold the Miss Universe Organization, which includes the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageant groups, to the agency WME/IMG.
