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CJ Opiaza

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1755850610438Screenshot 2025-08-22 at 4.14.02 PM.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza. Miss Grand International/Instagram"/>Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza. Miss Grand International/Instagram</div>Christine Juliane &quot;CJ&quot; Opiaza made history last June as she ascended to the Miss Grand International throne.This makes her the first-ever Filipina to be proclaimed Miss Grand International -- the golden crown has been elusive for the Philippines since the pageant was founded in 2013 by Thai entrepreneur Nawat Itsaragrisil. It took more than a decade and a change in ownership of the national franchise for the Philippines to bag the title. Delegates to Miss Grand International were originally sent by Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI), which eventually <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/11/07/22/bb-pilipinas-not-renewing-miss-grand-franchise">dropped the franchise in 2022.</a>Arnold Vegafria&#x27;s ALV Pageant Circle eventually took over in 2023. The organization also sends candidates to the following pageants: Reina Hispanoamericana, Face of Beauty International, and Universal Woman.<div> </div><div>BPCI era: Nicole Cordoves and Samantha Bernardo</div>From 2013 to 2022, the Filipina queens sent by BPCI generally delivered impressive performances as they competed in the Miss Grand International stage, with most of them finishing in the Top 5.Two of them even nearly won the crown: Nicole Cordoves and Samantha Bernardo. Cordoves, who first made her mark in the pageant scene as Miss Chinatown 2014, represented the Philippines via BPCI in Miss Grand International in 2016. She <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/8/11/look-stray-kids-bang-chan-stuns-in-custom-fendi-outfits-for-dominate-tour-1613">placed first runner-up</a>, much to the surprise of many pageant fans who believe that she should have gotten the golden crown. The winner that year was Ariska Putri Pertiwi of Indonesia.Putting her gift of gab to good use, Cordoves went on to pursue a career as a TV and events host, as well as a mentor to aspiring beauty queens, particularly in the question and answer segment. Earlier this year, she took on a new role as <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/7/30/former-beauty-queen-nicole-cordoves-steps-up-as-pageant-director-1159">pageant director of Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global.</a><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1755935328904508274109_18510734530050898_849394618790128389_n.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Miss Grand International 2016 Nicole Cordoves is now a host, beauty queen mentor, and pageant director. Cordoves/Instagram"/>Miss Grand International 2016 Nicole Cordoves is now a host, beauty queen mentor, and pageant director. Cordoves/Instagram </div>Fast forward to 2021, Bernardo wore the Philippine sash on the Miss Grand International stage. The 2020 edition of the pageant was held the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Considered a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/02/09/21/why-samantha-bernardo-not-aya-abesamis-will-compete-in-miss-grand-international">surprise candidate</a>, Bernardo was selected by BPCI to compete in Miss Grand International after the original representative, Aya Abesamis, exceeded the maximum age for the pageant.And she definitely did not waste the rare opportunity to show why the Philippines is considered a pageant powerhouse as she <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/03/27/21/samantha-bernardo-is-miss-grand-international-2020-first-runner-up">placed first runner-up</a> to Abena Appiah of the United States.Bernardo went on to gain a wide following after her pageant stint, opening doors to opportunities in show business. She became a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/01/03/22/samantha-bernardo-sizzles-in-first-ig-post-after-pbb">housemate on the ABS-CBN reality show &quot;Pinoy Big Brother,&quot;</a> on top of scoring hosting gigs on TV and events. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1755935370554485069846_18499649836011399_9209342437331344853_n.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Miss Grand International 2020 first runner-up Samantha Bernardo is busy with her roles as host, model, and wife. Bernardo/Instagram"/>Miss Grand International 2020 first runner-up Samantha Bernardo is busy with her roles as host, model, and wife. Bernardo/Instagram </div><div> </div><div>ALV Pageant Circle era: CJ Opiaza</div>Roberta Tamondong, who was proclaimed 5th runner-up, was BPCI&#x27;s last representative in Miss Grand International in 2022.The national franchise was acquired by ALV Pageant Circle, which staged the inaugural Miss Grand Philippines pageant the following year. <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/07/14/23/cagayan-de-oro-wins-miss-grand-philippines-2023">Nikki de Moura</a> was crowned the first-ever Miss Grand Philippines, but her journey to the golden crown was unfortunately short. She <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/10/27/23/nikki-de-moura-speaks-up-after-miss-grand-loss">failed to enter the Top 20</a> of Miss Grand International 2023, which was won by Peru&#x27;s Luciana Fuster.A year later, Opiaza brought the Philippines back to the finals with her first runner-up finish to India&#x27;s Rachel Gupta in Miss Grand International 2024. And while she did not get the golden crown, she was able to build ties with the pageant&#x27;s president and founder, Itsaragrisil, who even<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/12/7/miss-grand-runner-up-cj-opiaza-back-in-manila-all-set-for-grand-homecoming-2146"> joined her in Manila for her homecoming parade.</a>Fast forward to 2025, Miss Grand International announced that it has <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/5/29/miss-grand-international-lists-reasons-why-it-revoked-crown-of-rachel-gupta-2010">revoked the title of Gupta</a>, following a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/5/29/stepped-down-or-kicked-out-miss-grand-international-founder-ex-titleholder-in-messy-public-feud-1438">messy public feud with Itsaragrisil</a> and the organization. And in a surprise development that delighted Filipino pageant fans, Opiaza stepped up as the new bearer of the golden crown.Days after the online announcement, Opiaza got the crowning moment she deserves, with the Filipina in tears as she was <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">officially introduced as the new Miss Grand International 2024</a> at a ceremony in Thailand. In her speech, she said: &quot;I know this moment is so sudden... but this is my golden moment and this is a historic win for the Philippines.&quot;&quot;Lalaban lang tayo -- lagi. Para ito sa bansang Pilipinas,&quot; she added.

Christine Juliane "CJ" Opiaza made history last June as she ascended to the Miss Grand International throne.

Christine Juliane "CJ" Opiaza made history last June as she ascended to the Miss Grand International throne.

Runner-up no more: PH's road to Miss Grand International crown

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Runner-up no more: PH's road to Miss Grand International crown

ABS-CBN News

Published August 23, 2025 04:00 PM PHT

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Miss Grand International

CJ Opiaza

Nicole Cordoves

Samantha Bernardo

beauty queens

pageants

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