CJ Opiaza joins Miss Grand International 2024 ‘pre-arrival’ dinner

Miss Grand Philippines CJ Opiaza/MISS GRAND INTERNATIONAL FACEBOOK

Despite having just a few days since her coronation as the Philippines’ delegate to the 2024 Miss Grand International pageant, CJ Opiaza was able to gather enough online votes to get her a seat in the global tilt’s “pre-arrival” dinner with owner Nawat Itsaragrisil.

Only the 10 ladies with the highest number of valid votes were invited to the occasion held at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Friday night, Oct. 4.

The other lucky ladies who joined Opiaza in the exclusive dinner were the delegates from Asian countries Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and India; and the representatives from Spain, Paraguay and Mexico.

Also at the dinner was reigning Peruvian queen Luciana Fuster, who took home the Miss Grand International crown in last year’s competition held in Vietnam.

At the dinner, Itsragrisil asked Opiaza why the country’s national contest was held late. “For the information of everybody, I was just crowned last 29th, and I only have three days to prepare to be here. That’s the challenge for me,” the Filipino queen said.

The 2024 Miss Grand Philippines pageant’s coronation show was held on Sept. 30 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City, with 20 ladies taking part in the competition.

“But also, just a little information, I have been aiming for the Miss Grand crown for the second time. And now I am finally here representing the Philippines. I joined a national competition back in 2022, aiming for the same crown, Miss Grand, but I wasn’t able to take home the crown,” shared Opiaza, referring to her Binibining Pilipinas pagent stint where she went home empty-handed.

The Philippines’ CJ Opiaza (seated, right) with the rest of the Top 10 delegates who earned seats at the ‘pre-arrival’ dinner/MISS GRAND INTERNATIONAL FACEBOOK PHOTO

That was also the last year when Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. held the Miss Grand International franchise for the Philippines. In 2023, talent manager Arnold Vegafria’s ALV Pageant Circle acquired the license.

Opiaza said she carries with her the genuineness of her passion and her authenticity. “Just like what Papa Nawat said, that we are always aiming for what is just true, and just showing only the truth here, nothing to be faked,” she explained.

She said that although she has been preparing to represent the Philippines in the Miss Grand International pageant since 2022, she still had to deal with critical concerns after getting officially crowned only a few days before flying to the global competition.

“The only challenge, maybe, is the costumes, the designers that I have to tap, so I can bring forward the artistry of all the Filipinos on the international stage. But everything is just going so fluid because I have my team behind me and all the Filipinos are supporting me,” Opiaza said.

The pasarela (pageant walk) coach from Zambales also shared with Itsaragrisil and her fellow delegates her aspirations. “I have been training some queens who are joining some other national and international competitions. So it’s a dream of mine to have a studio. So hopefully I’ll get to have my own studio,” she shared.

Opiaza is competing for the Philippines’ first “golden crown” from the Miss Grand International pageant. The highest finish for the country was posted by Nicole Cordoves and Samantha Bernardo, who were first runners-up in 2016 and 2020, respectively.

The 2024 Miss Grand International coronation night will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on Oct. 25.