Miss Grand International 2024

 India wins Golden crown, Philippines in Top 2

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Rachel Gupta of India was proclaimed the 12th Miss Grand International winner at the close of glitzy rites in Thailand. Outgoing queen Luciana Fuster of Peru relinquished her title to the Indian queen.

Christine Juliane Opiaza of the Philippines won as 1st runner-up, a great victory from last year's non placement. Crowd favorite Thae Su Nyein of Myanmar was proclaimed 2nd runner-up while Safietou Kabengee of France was named 3rd runner-up. Best in Swimsuit winner Talita Hartmann of Brazil completes the court as 4th runner-up.

The other ladies who made it to the Top 10 were Amy Virana Berry (United Kingdom), Maria Felix (Dominican Republic), Susana Lucia Medina (Spain), Arlette Rujel (Peru), and Nova Liana (Indonesia, Miss Charming by Chat Cosmetics and winner of the Popular Vote, which fast tracked her automatically to the Top 10). 

While Maria Angelica Vaponte (Colombia), Samantha Catherine Keaton (US Virgin Islands), Melisha Lin (Malaysia), Tania Estrada Quezada (Mexico), Tokyo Gonzalo (Guatemala), Giulia Zanoni (El Salvador), Akisha Albert (Curacao), Sharon Capo (Paraguay), Luma Noemi Siguemitu (Japan), and Malin Chara-anan (Thailand, winner of an automatic semifinal placement as County's Power of the Year, from an online poll on social media) made it to the semifinal round (Top 20).

The other special award recipients are Misses Brazil, Ecuador, and Honduras (Best in National Costume), Misses Thailand and Vietnam (Miss Beauty Skin Hya Booster Serum, Miss Ghana (Best in Evening Gown), and Miss Trinidad & Tobago (Grand Voice of the Year).

CJ Opiaza joins the ranks of near wins by Nicole Cordoves (2016) and Samantha Bernardo 2020). After twelve years, the Golden Crown has eluded the Philippines once again.

Hosted by Matthew Deane, the 12th Miss Grand International coronation night unfolded at the spanking new MGI Hall in Bangkok, and was beamed to a global audience (with a million viewers) through the Grand TV channel on YouTube.