jlbet CJ Opiaza of Castillejos, Zambales is Miss Grand Philippines 2024

CJ Opiaza of Castillejos, Zambales bested 19 other aspirants for the Miss Grand Philippines title. Image from Armin P. Adina,

After several delays, the Miss Grand Philippines pageant has finally proclaimed its new queen this year, and she is CJ Opiaza of Castillejos, Zambles.

Opiaza bested 19 other aspirants to inherit the crown from last year’s winner Nikki De Moura at the culmination of the 2024 Miss Grand Philippines final show held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City on Sunday night, Sept. 29.

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The country’s quest for the elusive “golden crown” of the Miss Grand International pageant now lies on the shoulders of the new queen, who is set to leave for the global tilt in Thailand on Oct. 3, just a few days from her coronation as the Philippines’ representative.

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Another winner was proclaimed during the ceremonies, and she is Universal Woman Philippines ⁠Sophia Bianca Santos from Pampanga, who inherited the title from Maria Gigante, the international pageant’s reigning queen and the first Filipino woman to bring home the crown.

A new crown was added in this year’s contest, the Miss Teen International Philippines title that went to Anna Margaret Mercado from Quirino. She was crowned by last year’s Miss Eco Teen Philippines Francine Reyes.

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Opiaza is a national pageant veteran who was crowned Miss Bikini Philippines in 2016. She also took part in the 2022 Bb. Pilipinas competition, and was proclaimed as first runner-up in the 2023 Miss Universe Philippines contest.

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Early on in the competition, Opiaza has shown mastery of the pageant with her bold pasarela that is most valued by the Thailand-based Miss Grand International pageant. She was the heavy favorite to win the Miss Grand franchise, and dominated the special awards — Miss Mestiza, Miss Photogenic, Miss Multimedia, Miss Aqua Boracay, and Best in Swimsuit.

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Miss Grand Philippines CJ Opiaza (center) beams with her court composed of (fron left) 2nd runner-up Alexandra Mae Rosales, Universal Woman Philippines Sophia Bianca Santos, Miss Teen International Philippines Anna Margaret Mercado, and 1st runner-up Jubilee Therese Acosta./ARMIN P. ADINA

Finishing as first runner-up was ⁠Jubilee Therese Acosta from Manila, while Alexandra Mae Rosales from Laguna rounded up the winners’ circle as second runner-up.

The 2024 Miss Grand Philippines pageant made a call for applicants earlier this year, but the final screening was postponed several times. Organizer ALV Pageant Circle of talent manager Arnold Vegafria announced that the coronation was scheduled for August, but it did not push through last month.

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ALV Pageant Circle is the third entity to hold the Philippine franchise of the Miss Grand International pageant. It was with the late pageant mentor John Dela Vega for the first two years of the global tilt, until Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. acquired it in 2015. Vegafria has been national director since 2023.

No Filipino woman has ever brought home the Miss Grand International crown. The highest placement for the Philippines was posted by Bb. Pilipinas queens Nicole Cordoves and Samantha Bernardo, who finished as first runner-up in 2016 and 2020, respectively.

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