Miss Grand International 2024

 CJ returns as Miss Grand International 2024

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte 

After officially crowned as Miss Grand International 2024 last June 3 in Bangkok, Christine Juliane Opiaza returned home to a confab at the Grand Westside Hotel and homecoming parade around the SM Mall of Asia grounds.

Miss Grand International founder & president Nawat Itsaragrisil and his team flew in from Thailand to be part of CJ's homecoming celebration. 

"CJ will be travelling around Asia and some parts of the world. We are sorry that that we gave her the crown a little later than expected. She will have a very busy calendar starting this month. She'll be flying to four countries after we've completed the lineup of crowns. She takes the title and the money too! We are a fair pageant," said Papa Nawat, who gamely answered all sorts of queries from.the pageant media.

With CJ now crowned as Miss Grand International 2024, her court is comprised of Talita Hartmann (1st runner-up, Brazil), Amy Viranya Berry (2nd runner-up, United Kingdom), Susana Medina (3rd runner-up, Spain), and Maria Felix (4th runners-up, Dominican Republic).

"We're back home and you're the first to see the Golden crown, our very first! It's finally on my head so let's celebrate. Congratulations too to my predecessor queens as they paved the way for me. I'm now working on my visas for my work as new MGI queen," declared an overjoyed CJ.

Miss Grand Curacao 2024 Akisha Albert, considered a lucky charm for Filipina queens, is now part of the 5th runner-up lineup with Arlette Rujel of Peru, Nova Liana of Indonesia, Maria Angelica Valero of Colombia, and Melisha Lin of Malaysia. In the past, Akisha has competed with other Filipina queens - Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell, Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 Teresita Ssen Marquez, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. 

"When we heard the surprising turn of events (after Rachel Gupta's resignation), we were excited. Because by any pageant's mandate, the 1st runner-up is the most likely successor. When all the technicalities were sorted out, the MGI organization informed us.

"Despite the controversy, the organization rose up to the challenge as they came up with viable solutions, while retaining goodwill in pageantry. It is funny how destiny manifested itself. The golden crown found its owner," revealed ALV Pageant Circle president Arnold L. Vegafria at the start of the open forum.

CJ has visited Myanmar to grace the Miss Grand Myanmar International 2025 preliminary competition with MGI organization vice-president Teresa Chaivisut.