Camille Naredo

Miss Grand International CJ Opiaza. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- CJ Opiaza was warmly embraced by Filipino pageant fans in a homecoming parade at the Mall of Asia grounds on Monday, as they celebrated her crowning as the country&#x27;s first Miss Grand International.Opiaza formally took over the Miss Grand International title last June 3 in a crowning ceremony at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand. She had taken over for Rachel Gupta of India, who won the pageant seven months ago but has since become embroiled in undisclosed disagreements with the MGI organization.Present at the parade was Miss Grand International President Nawat Itsaragrisil, who looked back on the emotional crowning moment of CJ, where the Philippine anthem was played on the big stage for the very first time in pageant history.&quot;It was a wonderful event. [It] was like a dream,&quot; Itsarangrisil recalled. &quot;I felt not only impressed, but also sorry for her and the Filipino people (for the late crowning). And so, the time was coming and the tears fell,&quot; he said.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" 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">READ: CJ Opiaza in tears at Miss Grand International coronation</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/6/2/cj-opiaza-aims-for-grand-reign-as-first-filipina-miss-grand-international-1348">READ: CJ Opiaza aims for grand reign as first Filipina Miss Grand International</a></div>In a press conference ahead of the parade, Opiaza asked for help from relevant agencies as she seeks to fulfill her duties as Miss Grand International, which involves traveling all over the world.&quot;I think it&#x27;s just right time for me to ask for help na rin po. Because we&#x27;re actually working on some of my visas. We need to have my visa for Spain, we need to have my visa for US also. Because there are some countries that I have to travel for the coming months,&quot; Opiaza said. &quot;Of course to represent the Miss Grand International Organization. But also to bring our flag on those stages and on those countries as well. So if we have people who can help me also to process everything that we need,&quot; she added.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749475916982060925_CJ Opiaza .jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Miss Grand International CJ Opiaza. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News"/>Miss Grand International CJ Opiaza. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN NewsOpiaza bared that if they are able to process the visa, she would fly to Spain and Netherlands very soon. </div>&quot;And then after that, I&#x27;ll be going to Myanmar. So roughly &#x27;yan po yung mga events for this month. But there&#x27;s gonna be a lot more countries that we&#x27;ll be traveling.&quot;Trips to Latin countries and visits to refugee camps are also part of the plans for Opiaza, according to Itsaragrisil. He assured that Opiaza has a lot of time to make an impact in her brief reign, which ends in October.Itsaragrisil also did not rule out another win for the Philippines in the Miss Grand International, though he put the onus on national director Arnold Vegrafia to make it happen.&quot;I try to support, we know Arnold and his history of the beauty queens, this is the good time to fulfill your moment,&quot; he said.&quot;This is the first-ever winner. This is a special crown,&quot; Nawat said about Opiaza&#x27;s crown. &quot;Is it possible? Maybe back to back, it depends on Beauty Queen Maker (Arnold) if he will send a good candidate then she will win.&quot;

CJ Opiaza was warmly embraced by Filipino pageant fans in a homecoming parade at the Mall of Asia grounds on Monday, as they celebrated her crowning as the country's first Miss Grand International.

CJ Opiaza was warmly embraced by Filipino pageant fans in a homecoming parade at the Mall of Asia grounds on Monday, as they celebrated her crowning as the country's first Miss Grand International.

CJ Opiaza feted in parade after Miss Grand International crowning

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CJ Opiaza feted in parade after Miss Grand International crowning

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 09, 2025 10:20 PM PHT

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beauty pageant

CJ Opiaza

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