IN THE SPOTLIGHT: PH and the elusive Miss Grand International crown

Miss Grand International 2020 first runner-up Samantha Bernardo, Miss Grand International 2024 first runner-up CJ Opiaza, and Miss Grand International 2016 first runner-up Nicole Cordoves. Image: Instagram/@samanthabernardo, @cjopiaza; Binibining Pilipinas website

While the golden crown from the Miss Grand International has been elusive to the Philippines, several Filipino queens came close to bringing it home. 

The most recent one to have done so was 2024 national titleholder CJ Opiza, who placed first runner-up in the global tilt. This made her the third Filipino Miss Grand International delegate to snag such placement, following Nicole Cordoves and Samantha Bernardo in 2016 and 2020, respectively.

But along with these queens, it is just right to acknowledge the other Miss Grand Philippines titleholders who individually owned the spotlight and conquered the stage with Filipino pride.

To refresh everyone’s memory, here’s a look back on all those who represented the country in the Thailand-based competition.

Annalie Forbes (2013)

Miss Grand International 2013 third runner-up Ali Forbes. Image: Facebook/Miss Grand International

Annalie “Ali” Forbes is Miss Grand Philippines 2013 and the first to have been appointed to the national title.

At the time, the Philippine representative was chosen by the then-pageant franchise holder, late pageant mentor John Dela Vega, in coordination with Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI). The lounge singer-turned-beauty queen earned the crown after she placed first runner-up in the Binibining Pilipinas 2012 pageant. 

Forbes finished 3rd runner-up in the Miss Grand International debut edition in 2013, where Puerto Rico’s Janelee Chaparro was crowned as the titleholder. 

After her stint in the pageant, the Bulakenya stunner ventured into show business and joined the reality show “Pinoy Big Brother.” She also entered politics and is currently running for councilor in Quezon. 

Kimberly Karlsson (2014)

Miss Grand Philippines 2014 Kimberly Karlsson. Image: Facebook/Miss Grand International

Filipino-Swedish Kimberly Karlsson from Mindoro won the inaugural edition of the Miss Grand Philippines in 2014, making her the Philippine representative in the international pageant of the same year. 

Karlsson fell short of securing a placement at the global tilt as she did not enter the initial lineup of finalists. Cuba’s Daryanne Lees was crowned the Miss Grand International 2015.

Parul Shah (2015)

Miss Grand International 2015 third runner-up Parul Shah. Image: Instagram/@parulshahofficial

In 2015, BPCI acquired the Philippine franchise of Miss Grand International. The organization sent Parul Shah, who was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Tourism 2014, to represent the Philippines in the Miss Grand International 2015. 

Making her among the standouts were her performances in the several pageant competitions, including the national costume contest where she bagged the top award.

The Filipino-Indian beauty queen used her platform to call for peace, amplifying the global tilt’s campaign.

“Our ancestors have died fighting for the life we live today. Let’s honor that by choosing peace, peace for our homes, our children, our future,” Shah urged. “Peace filled with education, empowerment and understanding. Peace even in the smallest voice, multiplied by millions can transform this world. So join me in one with the world, please stop the war and choose peace.”

Shah emerged as the third runner-up, while Anea Garcia from Dominican Republic was proclaimed Miss Grand International 2015. 

Nicole Cordoves (2016)

Miss Grand International 2016 first runner-up Nicole Cordoves. Image: Facebook/Miss Grand International

Cordoves was crowned the Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2016, which earned her the ticket to represent the country in the international competition.

Cordoves was among the standouts in their batch, and was the first delegate to give the Philippines its highest placement in the Miss Grand International.

Applauded for her impressive wit, Cordoves caught the attention of pageant fans with her controversial response to the question: “Who would you choose to help you stop the war and violence—Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?”

“I would choose Donald Trump to stop the war and violence with me because if we choose him to switch to our side there won’t be war and violence anymore,” she answered, referring to then-United States presidential candidate who has been known for his misogynistic and divisive takes.

“So, I will also make sure that he will read my speeches to stop the war and violence because imagine someone who would bring so much madness and so much emotion from these people,” she continued. “What if we use his voice to actually do good for the world? What if we use that to our advantage? That’s why let’s keep the peace and let Donald Trump switch to our side to stop the war and violence.”

Ariska Putri Pertiwi of Indonesia brought home the golden crown that year—a feat Cordoves had still celebrated.

“Maybe the organization saw something in Miss Indonesia that I don’t have. All I know is that I gave my best walk, my best performance on and off the stage. I gave the best answer, so they must be looking for something else. And I respect the destiny of every girl there on that stage,” Cordoves stated at the time.

Elizabeth Durado Clenci (2017)

Miss Grand International 2017 second runner-up Elizabeth Durado Clenci. Image: Binibining Pilipinas

Elizabeth Durado Clenci, a Filipino-Australian stunner from Cebu, competed against 76 candidates at the Miss Grand International 2017 and secured the second runner-up win.

Prior to Miss Grand International, Clenci joined Binibining Pilipinas twice as she failed to secure a placement in her first try. When she joined the pageant for the second time, she was deemed as one of her batch’s dark horses and later won the Miss Grand Philippines International 2017 title.

During her Miss Grand International stint, Clenci featured the rich culture of Mindanao, choosing a T’boli princess-inspired costume for her entry to the national costume competition. 

The Miss Grand International 2017 crown was given to Maria Jose Lora of Peru.

Eva Patalinjug (2018)

Binibining Pilipinas Grand International Eva Patalinjug. Image: Binibining Pilipinas

Despite ending her journey early at the 2018 Miss Grand International finals, Eva Patalinjug earned the admiration of pageant fans for embodying the values of “courage, strength, and the essence of rising from every stumble in life.”

This was after Patalinjug stepped on her dress and almost fell during the evening gown competition. 

“Our greatest glory in life is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Tonight, my heart is filled with joy knowing that my entire country stood up with me when I fell at the [Miss Grand International] stage,” she said.

Patalinjug, who joined the pageant as a registered nurse, is now a lawyer and a mother.

Samantha Ashley Lo (2019)

Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2019 Samantha Ashley Lo. Image: Instagram/@samantha_ashley_lo

Samantha Ashley Lo’s journey in the Miss Grand International 2019 was arguably one of the most controversial among the national titleholders. The beauty queen—who is of Filipino-Chinese and Cuban-Nicaraguan descent—was held at an airport in Paris, France after having an issue with her travel documents en route to then-host country Venezuela.

Lo first drew worry among pageant fans after she departed the Philippines for the preliminary event but was not seen with the rest of the candidates. BPCI then confirmed that Lo was detained in Paris for carrying a fake passport. 

Lo, who was still able to participate in the Miss Grand International competition later, claimed that the BPCI did nothing to help her get out of detention. This was then refuted by the organization, saying they sought the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the matter. BPCI further said the Lo’s family admitted that they got the beauty queen’s passport through a “fixer.”

Unfortunately, Lo did not make it to the initial lineup of finalists during the coronation night. A month after the competition, she announced her resignation as Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2019.

A year later, Lo opened up about the incident and disclosed that she “fell into self-pitying depression” and thought that the “world hates [her].”

“I’m slowly and steadily working on being a healthier me everyday, putting in the work that needs to be done and thinking of ways I can continue to improve and be better,” she said.

Samantha Bernardo (2020)

Miss Grand International 2020 first runner-up Samantha Bernardo. Image: Instagram/@samanthabernardo_

Bernardo, who was second runner-up in the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, was appointed by BPCI to represent the country in the international pageant in 2020. 

Bernardo was among the 63 women who vied for the golden crown in the finals night, which was held in 2021 due to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 

The Palawan-based beauty queen finished the competition as first runner-up, with USA’s Abena Appiah winning the title. 

Prior to joining Binibining Pilipinas, Bernardo competed in Miss World Philippines pageant and placed in the Top 13. She then joined Binibining Pilipinas tilt for three times, before being chosen to represent the country in Miss Grand International.

Samantha Panlilio (2021)

Samantha Panlilio. Image: Facebook/Miss Grand International

Samantha Panlilio earned her ticket to the Miss Grand International pageant after she won one of the national titles in the Binibining Pilipinas pageant in 2021. 

Despite ending her journey early after her non-inclusion in the pageant’s Top 20 finalists, Panlilio was among the Top 10 Best in National Costume as well as the Top 5 Best in Swimsuit. 

Speaking about the loss, Panlilio admitted she was “heartbroken” but she underscored that she did her best.

“I am completely heartbroken but I know that I did my best and that’s all that matters. I feel nothing but [gratitude]. My heart is warm,” she said.

Roberta Tamondong (2022)

Bb. Pilipinas Roberta Tamondong/ARMIN P. ADINA

Seasoned pageant queen Roberta Tamondong finished her Miss Grand International journey as part of the Top 21. However, after the controversial resignation of Mauritius bet Yuvna Gookool as one of the titleholders, Tamondong was appointed by the global tilt as the fifth runner-up.

Amid criticisms over her decision to accept the title, Tamondong stressed that it was the “best decision that [she] will make for the Philippines.”

According to the pageant organization, Gookool was “not able to sign the contract and complete the duty as 5th runners up.” Gookool’s team refuted this and claimed that the beauty queen was given a resignation contract by the MGI organization but that she did not sign it.

Isabella Menin of Brazil was hailed the titleholder at the tilt’s 2022 edition. 

Meanwhile, prior to Miss Grand International, Tamondong succeeded in the Miss Eco Teen International pageant in Egypt and became the contest’s first titleholder from the Philippines.

Nikki de Moura (2023)

Nikki de Moura. Images: Facebook/Miss Grand International, Instagram/@msgrandphilippines

Filipino-Brazilian Nikki de Moura won her national title in the standalone Miss Grand Philippines pageant mounted by ALV Pageant Circle of talent manager Arnold L. Vegafria. Vegafria took over the franchise after the BPCI announced its withdrawal from the Thailand-based pageant.

Unfortunately, amid her outstanding performance in the preliminary competition, De Moura failed to enter the international competition’s Top 20 finalists. 

Her reign was also smeared with criticisms from Miss Grand International founder Nawat Itsaragrisil, who claimed that De Moura was “very unprofessional” during the global tilt. He further argued that De Moura was the “wrong candidate” to represent the Philippines because she “had a lot of problems since day one.”

While De Moura and Miss Grand Philippines organization did not comment on the matter, De Moura’s fellow candidates attested to her “pure soul.”

“I poured my heart and soul into representing [the] Philippines, and my heart aches with disappointment. But even in the face of this heartache, I choose gratitude,” De Moura said in a statement.

“This is not the end…. just the start of something greater, and I’m excited to see where life’s adventures will take me. Now, I stand before you, not as a part of the top 20, but as someone who gave her all,” she added.

Luciana Fuster of Peru was named the winner of the pageant’s 2023 edition. 

CJ Opiaza (2024)

Miss Grand International 2024 first runner-up Christine Juliane Opiaza from the Philippines / SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE, GRAND TV

Opiaza—who has several national titles under her belt including Miss Bikini Philippines 2016 and Miss Universe 2023 first runner-up—was proclaimed the Miss Grand Philippines 2024 after she bested 19 other aspirants at the national competition. 

Just a few days after her coronation, Opiaza left for the global tilt where she emerged as one of the frontrunners with her impressive performance in the pre-pageant competitions. 

Opiaza even seemed to have amused Itsaragrisil who asked about the beauty queen’s thoughts on Filipinos calling the Miss Grand International pageant a “cooking show.” 

“I would say to all the Filipino fans, cooking in Thailand, [cooking] their dishes is what I’m looking forward to. I love their dishes,” Opiaza responded to Itsaragrisil. 

“I hope we focus more on the definition of ‘what is cooking,’ because we are just cooking the most perfect girl here for the Grand crown,” she added. 

These accusations—which were apparently made not just by Filipinos but by pageant fans from other countries as well—supposedly arose after pageant favorites or frontrunners in the competition were not given the awards or titles they were deserving of despite their impressive performance.

Opiaza came second to India’s Rachel Gupta who won the 2024 Miss Grand International title.