The crowning moment of Zambales' CJ Opiaza as the Philippines' representative to the 2024 Miss Grand International. YouTube/Miss Grand Philippines

MANILA -- CJ Opiaza of Zambales will represent the Philippines in the Miss Grand International pageant next month.

Opiaza, from the municipality of Castillejos, bested 19 other candidates during the coronation night held on Sunday at the Newport World Resorts in Pasay.

She has been the frontrunner in the competition, bagging many awards including the Best in Swimsuit trophy.

During the Q&A portion, Opiaza was asked: "Olympic athletes and beauty queens have a lot in common, you train and work hard to achieve and you both bring glory and honor when (you) win. However, compared to the millions that Olympic medalists get ... winning beauty queens don't get anything at all." 

"Do you think winning beauty queens also deserve the rewards and the incentives that the Olympic athletes get from the government, private sector, and other establishments?"

In her response, Opiaza said she does not see the need for incentives for beauty queens, stressing that they should instead strive harder for pushing for their advocacies.

"Being able to stand here is already a reward for us. Actually, I think that we actually don't need an incentive or a monetary reward to be able to be seen or to be heard," the beauty queen said. 

"Just the very platform like this is already championing the lives of the people believing us, the people who we inspire. I hope all the beauty queens here will continue their legacy to push for their causes, to present themselves around the world," she added.

Opiaza is not new to the pageant scene as she joined Binibining Pilipinas 2022 but did not place in the competition. 

She also competed in Miss Universe 2023 and ended her journey as the 1st runner-up to Michelle Dee.

Opiaza will be competing for the 2024 Miss Grand International pageant on October 25 in Bangkok.

The Philippines has yet to win the Miss Grand International title. Two Filipinas have so far finished first runner-up: Nicole Cordoves in 2016 and Samantha Bernardo in 2020/2021. 

Last year's representative, Nikki de Moura, failed to make it to the first cut of the Miss Grand International pageant.

Meanwhile, Sophia Bianca Santos of Pampanga was declared as Universal Woman Philippines 2025 while Anna Margaret Mercado of Quirino is Miss Teen International—Philippines 2024.

Here are the other placements and special awards of Miss Grand Philippines 2024:

Miss Grand Philippines 2024: CJ Opiaza (Castillejos, Zambales)

Universal Woman Philippines 2025: Sophia Bianca Santos (Pampanga)

Miss Teen International - Philippines 2024: Anna Margaret Mercado (Quirino)

1st runner-up: Jubilee Therese Acosta (Manila)

2nd runner-up: Alexandra Mae Rosales (Laguna)

TOP 10:

Selena Antonio-Reyes (Pasig City)

Jenesse Viktoria Mejia (Pangasinan)

Patricia McGee (Zambales)

Geralyn Basto de Klerke (Himamaylan, Negros Occidental)

Julianne Rose Reyes (Cavite)

SPECIAL AWARDS:

Best in Evening Gown: Sophia Bianca Santos (Pampanga)

Best in Swimsuit: CJ Opiaza (Castillejos, Zambales)

Best in National Costume: Sophia Bianca Santos (Pampanga)

Miss Congeniality: Geralyn Basto de Klerke (Himamaylan, Negros Occidental)

Miss Photogenic: CJ Opiaza (Castillejos, Zambales)

Miss Multimedia: CJ Opiaza (Castillejos, Zambales)

Miss Illo's: Selena Antonio-Reyes (Pasig City)

Miss Mestiza: CJ Opiaza (Castillejos, Zambales)

Miss Aqua Boracay: CJ Opiaza (Castillejos, Zambales) 

LMT Packaging Corporation Ambassadress: Alexandra Mae Rosales (Laguna)

The Palace Ambassadress: Patricia McGee (Zambales)