The Trump family is expected to make a hefty profit from a surreal spectacle in Singapore where female crypto entrepreneurs will strut a runway and dance for investors in hopes of landing a job.
The ‘Miss HTX’ beauty contest is being organized by Chinese billionaire Justin Sun, who was under investigation for fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission – until the Trump administration mysteriously dropped the case in February.
Sun managed to land a headline-grabbing sponsor for his beauty pageant: the Trump Organization itself, which stands to profit through its $TRUMP meme coin.
How to snag a seat?
Whichever HTX users trade the most of HTX or Trump’s meme coin are getting an invite to the finale party, where Don Jr. is expected to appear.
The Trump-backed crypto firm receives a cut of all trading fees involving the meme coin and Sun himself has already purchased at least $90million in Trump-linked crypto, raising questions about whether he purchased his way out of a prosecution for charges related to market manipulation and unregistered securities.
‘If true, this seems to represent how intertwined Trump’s business interests are with unsavory characters who exploit that relationship to obtain favor from SEC law enforcement while furthering their own and the president’s crypto businesses,’ Virginia Canter, director of ethics and anti-corruption at Democracy Defenders Fund, told the Daily Mail.
The Miss HTX contest is turning heads with its unique blend of beauty, brains, and blockchain savvy.
Contestant Nova Cai, shown above, was a former Miss Asia participant
World Liberty co-founder Donald Trump Jr. speaks with CEO Zach Witkoff at the TOKEN2049 crypto conference in Singapore October 1, 2025. The $TRUMP meme coin, owned by the Trump Organization, is sponsoring a TOKEN2049 after-party where the winners of Miss HTX are to be announced
‘The contest includes, but is not limited to, blockchain knowledge tests, community influence, talent showcases, live runway shows, and public speaking challenges, allowing all HTX users to vote for their favorite contestants,’ according to the HTX website
Screen grabs from HTX Live show female participants in Miss HTX singing and dancing for a chance to land a job at the crypto firm
To enter, women submit their height, weight, and special talents—ranging from dancing and singing to acting—for live runway shows.
Contestants are judged not only on stage presence and public speaking but also on their knowledge of crypto and blockchain, along with their influence.
An ad posted by HTX on Telegram hypes the competition with the tagline: ‘The stage is hotter, the game is bolder—and the next crypto queen or Miss Trump is on her way.’
Judges are large HTX crypto holders who presumably hold millions, Sun and HTX executives, industry elites, top-tier media and key opinion leaders, according to HTX’s website.
Sun himself is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the after-party, according to a press release. Guests will also have opportunities to win raffle prizes, including ‘Trump watches,’ Formula 1 tickets and HTX coins.
In February, under the Trump administration, Sun negotiated a pause in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation into his crypto dealings. The Department of Justice was also reportedly probing him.
The Chinese-born crypto entrepreneur also ponied up the most cash to earn a seat at the president’s table at a gala in May. The competition stated that whoever bought the most $TRUMP coin would win an exclusive opportunity to dine with the president.
Sun, worth an estimated $8billion, revealed that he is ‘the top holder of $TRUMP,’ earlier this year, and his holdings in the meme coin are estimated to be upwards of $15million, according to a recent Bloomberg analysis.
One contestant, Rachel Z, a New York University graduate, made it to the final rounds of Miss HTX
The Miss HTX voting page for ‘Beautiful Una,’ a contestant in the pageant
Screen grabs of the Miss HTX competition where a contestant danced for mostly male judges
A screen grab for the Miss HTX sign-up form
The Trump meme coin is also sponsoring an afterparty in Singapore on Thursday, where the Miss HTX winners will be announced. ‘Particularly, the event will present ‘The $TRUMP Innovator Award,’ a press release for the event states.
‘This special award not only celebrates the intelligence, charisma, and Web3 contributions of its recipients but also fuses the global influence of the Trump family and the viral energy of meme culture to open a new chapter for female empowerment in Web3,’ it says.
Trump Jr. is currently in the country for the TOKEN2049 conference, though it’s unclear whether he will attend the afterparty where the Miss HTX winners are announced.
CIC Digital LLC oversees the $TRUMP coin, and it is owned by the Trump Organization, which is run by the president’s sons, Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.
The Trump Organization did not respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment.
Nova Cai and friends attending a TOKEN2049 event
Justin Sun (L) with World Liberty Financial CEO Zach Witkoff (C) and Eric Trump (R) at the TOKEN2049 crypto conference in May. The same organization is hosting a conference by the same name this week in Singapore, where the Miss HTX winners will be announced
Sun’s ties to the Trump family and its crypto holdings have raised eyebrows among critics who decry conflicts of interest.
The crypto tycoon reportedly invested $75 million into World Liberty Financial (WLF), a crypto organization co-founded by Trump Jr. and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s son, Zach Witkoff, who serves as CEO.
The Miss HTX participants who come out on top will win generous cash prizes, direct access to high-paying positions at HTX, industry exposure, a travel bonus and a meeting with Sun, according to the contest’s sign-up sheet.
HTX and the $TRUMP meme coin are also partners for an afterparty for the TOKEN2049 conference in Singapore this week, around the same time as the Miss HTX finals.
Submissions from candidates for the Miss HTX competition show several women practicing their dancing and singing.
Many of the contestants appear to be from China, according to a Daily Mail analysis of their online profiles.
