CJ Opiaza. Image: Instagram/@msgrandphilippines
CJ Opiaza was picked as the heavy favorite to win the Miss Grand Philippines 2024 crown by observers, after landing on the top spot of pageant publications’ hot picks hours before its coronation night.
Opiaza, who’s representing Castillejos, Zambales in the pageant, emerged as the chosen bet to win the title by Missosology and Sash Factor, as seen on its respective Facebook pages on Sunday, Sept. 29.
Trailing behind the Zambales-born beauty queen are Alexandra Mae Rosales of Laguna and Selena Antonio-Reyes of Pasig, clinching the second and third spots, respectively. All three of them are alums of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant.
Meanwhile, Sophia Bianca Santos (Pampanga) and Anna Margaret Mercado (Quirino) took the rest of the top five spots, according to Missosology’s picks.
Meanwhile, Jubilee Therese Acosta (Manila) and Mercado were chosen by Sash Factor as their remaining five bets to win the golden crown.
Opiaza is a familiar name in the pageant community as she ended her Miss Universe Philippines 2023 stint as first runner-up. She also competed in the Binibining Pilipinas 2022 tilt and was named Miss Bikini Philippines in 2016.
She expressed her intention to join the Miss Grand Philippines 2024 on multiple occasions on social media before submitting her application to the national tilt.
Reigning Miss Grand Philippines 2023 winner Nikki De Moura will relinquish her title to her successor at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Other titles up for grabs are Universal Woman Phillippines 2024, Miss Teen International Philippines 2024, as well as the runners-up.