Miss Grand Philippines CJ Opiaza/MISS GRAND INTERNATIONAL FACEBOOK Despite having just a few days since her coronation as the Philippines’ delegate to the 2024 Miss Grand International pageant, CJ Opiaza was able to gather enough online votes to get her a seat in the global tilt’s “pre-arrival” dinner with owner Nawat Itsaragrisil. Only the 10 ladies with the highest number of valid votes were invited to the occasion held at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Friday night, Oct. 4.
The other lucky ladies who joined Opiaza in the exclusive dinner were the delegates from Asian countries Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and India; and the representatives from Spain, Paraguay and Mexico. Also at the dinner was reigning Peruvian queen Luciana Fuster, who took home the Miss Grand International crown in last year’s competition held in Vietnam. At the dinner, Itsragrisil asked Opiaza why the country’s national contest was held late.
“For the information of everybody, I was just crowned last 29th, and I only have three days to prepare to be here. That’s the challenge for me,” the Filipino queen said. The 2024 Miss Grand Philippines pageant’s coronation show was held on Sept.
30 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City, with 20 ladies taking part in the competition. “But also, just a little information, I have been aiming for the Miss Grand crown for the second time. And now I am finally here representing the Philippin.