Daven Tamayo

Samantha Bernardo thanks CJ Opiaza for fulfilling PH's 'multo' after getting Miss Grand crown

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17491130999931749113103106.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A throwback photo showing Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza (left) and Miss Grand International 2020 first runner-up Samantha Bernardo"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A throwback photo showing Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza (left) and Miss Grand International 2020 first runner-up Samantha Bernardo </span></span></span></div><p>Samantha Bernardo turned emotional as she watched the crowning moment of her friend and fellow beauty queen, CJ Opiaza, as the new Miss Grand International (MGI) in Thailand earlier this week. </p><p>She expressed happiness that after years of near-wins, the Philippines finally has the golden crown. </p><p>&quot;I know how hard you worked, how much you gave. And I know you&#x27;ll keep fighting —  with grace, power, and pride — because you’re Filipina,&quot; Bernardo told Opiaza in an Instagram post on Wednesday.</p><p>&quot;You&#x27;re right… this is a historic win for our country. And I&#x27;m just so, so proud of you,&quot; she added.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKfF13mxf5D/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A8774712.700000018%2C%22ls%22%3A350139.5%2C%22le%22%3A350416.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="480" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Bernardo placed first runner-up in the 2020/2021 edition of MGI, with Abena Appiah of the United States winning the crown.</p><p>Like her, Opiaza also finished as first runner-up in MGI last year, but was recently proclaimed the new titleholder following disagreements between the organization and former winner Rachel Gupta of India.</p><p>Referring to the &quot;Multo&quot; social media trend, which encouraged people to reflect on missed opportunities or things they regret, Bernardo believes that Filipinos finally got the closure they needed with Opiaza&#x27;s coronation.</p><p>&quot;You can&#x27;t stop a Filipina!&quot; Bernardo declared. &quot;Thank you for fulfilling the Philippines&#x27; multo. Watching you made me cry.&quot;</p><p>Replying to Bernardo&#x27;s post, Opiaza said: &quot;Ate, thank you so much for helping me in my journey. Congratulations to us!&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/6/5/after-crowning-cj-opiaza-miss-grand-international-extends-age-range-for-contestants-1539">After crowning CJ Opiaza, Miss Grand International extends age range for contestants</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/6/3/-this-is-my-golden-moment-cj-opiaza-in-tears-at-miss-grand-international-coronation-1626">&#x27;This is my golden moment&#x27;: CJ Opiaza in tears at Miss Grand International coronation</a></div>

<p>Samantha Bernardo turned emotional as she watched the crowning moment of her friend and fellow beauty queen, CJ Opiaza, as the new Miss Grand International in Thailand earlier this week.</p>

Samantha Bernardo turned emotional as she watched the crowning moment of her friend and fellow beauty queen, CJ Opiaza, as the new Miss Grand International in Thailand earlier this week.