AT A GLANCE
Aside from CJ, Sophia Bianca Santos of Pampanga was named Universal Woman 2025, while Anna Margaret Mercado of Quirino Province was given the title Miss Teen International Philippines 2025 on the coronation night that was held at Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City.
Pageant veteran Christine Juliane "CJ " Opiaza - a 26-year-old candidate from Castillejos, Zambales, who first joined beauty contests as a teenager to get a college scholarship - was proclaimed Miss Grand Philippines 2024 Sunday night. She also gets to vie for this year's Miss Grand International finals slated to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on Oct. 25.
Aside from CJ, Sophia Bianca Santos of Pampanga was named Universal Woman 2025, while Anna Margaret Mercado of Quirino Province was given the title Miss Teen International Philippines 2025 on the coronation night that was held at Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City.
CJ and Sophia were crowned by their predecessors, namely Miss Grand Philippines 2023 Nikki De Moura and reigning Universal Woman Maria Gigante. Meanwhile, Miss Eco Teen Philippines 2023 Jasmine Reyes did the honors for the new Miss Teen International Philippines.
Named first runner-up was Dr. Jubilee Therese Acosta of the City of Manila while second runner-up was Alexandra Mae Rosales of Laguna Province.
A total of 20 contestants from all over the country competed for the title which is organized by ALV Pageant Circle of Arnold Vegafria, also the pageant's national director.
Rounding up the Top 10 in the competition were Julianne Rose Reyes of Cavite, Geralyn De Klerk of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, Jenesse Viktoria Mejia of Pangasinan, Selena Antonio-Reyes of Pasig and Patricia McGee of Zambales.
Early start in pageantry
CJ was an early contest favorite and ran away with most of the special awards from the sponsors, including Miss Photogenic, Miss Multimedia, Miss Mestiza, Miss Aqua Boracay, and Best in Swimsuit.
She was only 13 when she first attempted a beauty title at the Miss Teen Olongapo contest where she won first runner-up. She first caught the eyes of national pageant fans when she was adjudged Miss Bikini Philippines 2016. She also joined Bb. Pilipinas 2022 but was unplaced. In the Miss Universe Philippines 2023 contest, she ran away with first runner-up honors.
CJ is famous in the community for her pasarela or catwalk which she calls the "Amihan" walk because it blows one away like the wind. Local pageant fans express hopes this will be an asset for her when she competes in Miss Grand, a competition where the Philippines still has to bag the winning crown.
In the question-and-answer portion, the newly crowned Miss Grand Philippines 2024 was asked this question by TV executive Jeffrey Remigio: "Do you think winning beauty queens deserve also the rewards and incentives that Olympic athletes get from the government, private sector, and other established brands?"
CJ replied: "Being able to stand here is already a reward for us.I believe we don't actually need an incentive or a monetary award to be able to be seen and to be heard. Just the very platform of this is already championing the lives of the people who believe in us, the people who we inspire. And so, I hope all the beauty queens here will continue their legacy to push for their causes and to present themselves around the world."
The Miss Grand Philippines 2024 program was hosted by KC Montero, broadcaster Dyan Castillejo and Miss World 2024 1st Princess Jasmine Omay.
The board of Judges was headed by entrepreneur-philanthropist Shy Tan. It also included Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi, Miss Face of Beauty International 2024 Jeanne Isabelle Bilasano, noted designer Rian Fernandez, Reina Hispanoamericana 2023 second runner-up Michelle Arceo, actor David Chua, Bench model Mark Ian Garcia and MMA fighter John Adajar.
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