(From left) CJ Opiaza and Sophia Bianca Santos. Images: Screengrab from YouTube/GrandPhTV
The race to the Miss Grand Philippines 2024 title is heating up as CJ Opiaza of Castillejos, Zambales and Sophia Bianca Santos of Pampanga are among the chosen candidates who are still in the running for the golden crown.
The 10 candidates are chosen during the pageant’s coronation night at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City on Sunday, Sept. 29.
Those who advanced to the next stage of the competition are:
- Anna Margaret Mercado (Quirino)
- Selena Antonio-Reyes (Pasig City)
- Jenesse Viktoria Mejia (Pangasinan)
- Sophia Bianca Santos (Pampanga)
- Jubilee Therese Acosta (Manila)
- Patricia Mcgee (Zambales)
- Geralyn Basto de Klerke (Himamaylan, Negros Occidental)
- Alexandra Mae Rosales (Laguna)
- Julianne Rose Reyes (Cavite)
- CJ Opiaza (Castillejos, Zambales)
Mercado was selected as one of the ten candidates who advanced to the next stage of the pageant after winning the Popular Vote award.
Before the start of the national tilt, CJ Opiaza of Castillejos, Zambales was named the top favorite to bring home the Miss Grand Philippines title.
One of them will succeed Nikki De Moura as she has to bear the weight of the Philippines’ quest to bring home the first Miss Grand International crown.
The highest placement of the Philippines in the Miss Grand International pageant so far is first runner-up, which was given to Nicole Cordoves in 2016 and Samantha Bernardo in 2020.