Patricia Matias

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4 Things To Know About CJ Opiaza

<div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749038637434SnapInsta.to_503762848_18509079523015278_3182769933375228663_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Christine Julia Opiaza, Miss Grand International 2024</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Filipinos roared with pride and victory as<strong> Christine Julia &quot;CJ&quot; Opiaza</strong> was announced to assume the<strong> Miss Grand International 2024 </strong>title, following the resignation of India&#x27;s Rachel Gupta. This plot twist made CJ the first Miss Grand International (MGI) titleholder from the Philippines. </p><p>CJ originally finished in the first runner-up spot during the MGI coronation night last October. Now, she’s ready to carry out the responsibilities that come with the crown and start her journey as Miss Grand International 2024. </p><p>“My life turned 180 degrees,” the 26-year-old beauty queen shared in an interview with ABS-CBN News. “Yes, I think it&#x27;s destiny. Maybe it&#x27;s fate. Maybe it&#x27;s all, <em>eto na &#x27;yung</em> result <em>ng</em> hard work. Not only [for] me but all the Filipinos waiting for the crown. So this is definitely a historic moment for all of us.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAhvFd6SFEu/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A214199.60000000894%2C%22ls%22%3A213636.70000000298%2C%22le%22%3A214161.60000000894%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>It may not be an easy road to take, but it&#x27;s a journey she promises to embark on with pride and grace. “I&#x27;m always ready <em>kung ano man &#x27;yung maibigay sa akin</em>,” she said. “I had the shortest preparation. I had the shortest reign. But this would definitely be a grand reign for all the Filipinos.” </p><p>In her acceptance speech, she assured everyone that while this reign may be short, she’s ready to do whatever it takes to make it count. She expressed her commitment, saying, “Before I signed up for this job, I knew I was born ready, I am always ready, and now I&#x27;ve been given the challenge and I&#x27;m taking the challenge and taking the responsibility to fill [those] shoes as your first-runner up and now your Miss Grand International 2024. Truly, it&#x27;s an honor. I know there will be challenges along the way but I know I have my family with me, the Miss Grand International organization, to be able to surpass all of these and, of course, all the Filipinos, all the Thai fans, my fans all over the world, my organization from the Philippines, my family, of course, my team.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDZW6Tay3M6/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A295314%2C%22ls%22%3A213636.70000000298%2C%22le%22%3A214161.60000000894%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="566" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>CJ may be overjoyed and overwhelmed with everything thrown her way now, but advocating for peace is on top of her agenda. She said she intends to make the most of this big platform to further promote the advocacy of Miss Grand International, which is to stop war and violence. </p><p>”I am definitely going to talk to the organization about what activities or projects we can do <em>para mas marami pang makaalam</em> about this advocacy,” she assured. CJ also didn’t forget to thank the beauty queens who have come before her: “I have to congratulate also all the Filipinas who went to the same stage as me. They paved the way for me to be here. So, thank you, thank you so much.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKdz6BLSHLL/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A332648.90000000596%2C%22ls%22%3A213636.70000000298%2C%22le%22%3A214161.60000000894%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="611" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>As we celebrate her historic crowning moment, we have listed down fun and interesting things about Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza. Read on:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>She’s no rookie when it comes to pageantry.</strong></div><p>Before competing for the prestigious Miss Grand International in 2024, CJ already joined Binibining Pilipinas in 2022 and Miss Universe Philippines in 2023, where she placed first runner-up. But her pageant journey goes way back to 2012; she began competing in local beauty pageants primarily to support her education. The first ever competition she joined was Miss Olongapo. In 2015, she was crowned Miss Lyceum during her time at the University of Lyceum of Subic Bay.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-17" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKHHMUKSxma/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=864&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A17%2C%22os%22%3A51923544.900000006%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-17" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>She was a working student.</strong></div><p>According to CJ, it wasn’t easy for her family to send her to college or to continuously support her education. However, with courage and perseverance, she pursued the education she knew she deserved. While attending classes, she also did modeling on the side to help support herself financially. </p><p>“Of course, life will never run as [smoothly] and [flawlessly] the way you patterned it. There will still be times that life will challenge you (easy, moderate, and difficult levels...,“ she wrote in her graduation post on social media. “I continued my modeling career while studying to help my parents finance my educational activities and fees, so it [would] not add up to those bills every month.“</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>She was an academic achiever.</strong></div><p>It wasn’t easy to juggle studies and modelling, but she finished her degree with high honors. She was named the Special Academic Awardee and received the Outstanding Student Of The Year Award by Lyceum when she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Human Resource Development Management. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>She&#x27;s a breadwinner.</strong></div><p><strong></strong>CJ, who was born and raised in Zambales, Philippines, is the eldest in a brood of three girls. From being a working student, she has become a breadwinner, happy to step up to the plate and be of help to her family. She became a breadwinner at 16 when her father lost his job. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfrbXaZ6658" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">In &quot;Her Story&quot; feature for Miss Universe Philippines 2023</a>, she shared, &quot;<em>Hindi madali mabuhay nang walang pinanghahawakan</em>. <em>Bawat oras ay pinatatrabahuhan</em>—<em>umaga, hapon, gabi, hanggang sa magsimula na naman ang panibagong araw</em>. <em>Saksi ang panahon at ang aking probinsya sa pagsusumikap para maitaguyod at makatulong sa aking pamilya</em>. <em>Laman ako ng entablado mula noon at hanggang ngayon</em>. <em>Mula sa pagdayo sa iba&#x27;t-ibang bayan ng</em> Zambales<em> hanggang sa pagsalin ng korona sa naglalakihang patimpalak</em>.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D1932238826850522%26set%3Da.107201259354297%26type%3D3&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=500" width="500" height="692" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>She&#x27;s a mental health advocate.</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><p>CJ&#x27;s mental health advocacy is related to her being a breadwinner. &quot;I am the breadwinner of the family,&quot; she shared during her Miss Grand International interview. &quot;And so, I am a mental health advocate, particularly for my fellow breadwinners, because I want to share their stories and my stories. And I believe that would allow me to inspire more people, young women as well, and others who are listening to me to know that there is a power within you that you can use to be an inspiration and to be an instrument for others as well.&quot; </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-7" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKd2wlUS_V5/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=864&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A7%2C%22os%22%3A50444567%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="926" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-7" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>She’s a <em>pasarela</em> coach who aims to help aspiring beauty queens slay on the runway.</strong></div><p>After everything she’s been through in the pageant scene, CJ wanted to give back and pay it forward by helping aspiring beauty queens nail and slay their runway walk. She runs a pasarela coaching school called The Canvas. Among the beauty queens she has trained are Reina Hispanoamericana 2025 Dia Maté, Miss Supranational Asia and Oceania 2024 Alethea Ambrosio, Miss Eco International 2025 Alexie Brooks, and Miss Aura International 2025 Krishan Pauline Alerre. Recently, CJ also showcased her runway skills as one of the models who walked the runway of the Bench Body of Work.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-11" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5cslyHrTLw/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=864&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A11%2C%22os%22%3A51495987.8%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-11" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>She used to be a hip-hop dancer.</strong></div><p><strong></strong>CJ shared this trivia during Miss Grand International&#x27;s closed-door interview, wherein she had to introduce herself in a little more than one minute. Because dancing was among her passions as a kid, she also expressed interest in the idea of having The Canvas branch out to dance training or maximizing its venue for a dance studio. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-9" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKMK1Mxytx0/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=864&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A9%2C%22os%22%3A51388495.900000006%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-9" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>She dabbles in hosting.</strong></div><p><strong></strong>CJ describes herself as a &quot;multifaceted woman.&quot; &quot;I wear different hats,&quot; she quipped. Among her passions is hosting, and her eloquence and onstage presence show in her pageant performances.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-15" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKBP1SAyPkt/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=864&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A15%2C%22os%22%3A51806493.7%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-15" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>She&#x27;s an animal welfare advocate.</strong></div><p><strong></strong>CJ has been spreading positivity by encouraging everyone to &quot;cultivate a world built in love, kindness, and compassion&quot; through her Cultivating Journey platform. As someone multidimensional, she has been helping champion various causes that align with her values. Among the causes she has expressed support for is animal welfare. CJ is the co-founder of Passion for Joy Initiative, her sister PJ&#x27;s foundation, and recently, they partnered with The Homeless Dog Shelter Subic in helping build a safe haven for rescued animals.<strong></strong><br/></p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-19" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJoJ5JxyGow/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=864&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A19%2C%22os%22%3A52915231.3%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-19" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>She&#x27;s a Cancer woman.</strong></div><p><strong></strong>CJ was born on July 8, 1998. Her Zodiac sign is Cancer. Cancers are known for being emotionally intelligent, nurturing, intuitive, and empathetic. Ultimately, all these characteristics combined make CJ an empowered woman worth looking up to.</p><p>In an interview with her fellow beauty queen, Ayn Bernos, on the latter&#x27;s &quot;Conversations with Queens&quot; YouTube segment, CJ shared some remarkable pieces of advice as people go through their respective journeys: &quot;I want people to know na it&#x27;s not like a one-snap process <em>na</em> tomorrow, you&#x27;re good <em>na</em>, like you can get all the things that you want, that life would always be joy, life would always be the light. Sometimes there are days<em> na talagang sobrang</em> dark. There are a lot of loud noises in your head, silent battles that you have to go through. It&#x27;s reality. It&#x27;s life. And sometimes we&#x27;ll be put in that position and<em> minsan &#x27;yung</em> faith <em>mo</em>, <em>mate-</em>test <em>din</em>, but you have to be strong.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-21" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKPeOCayjxn/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=864&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A21%2C%22os%22%3A53718380.7%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="879" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-21" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Miss Grand International 2025 will take place in October in Thailand. </p><div><br/></div><p>Lead photo from <strong>@cjopiaza</strong></p>

<p>Learn more about the newly crowned Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza—her passions, pursuits, and purpose. </p>

Learn more about the newly crowned Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza—her passions, pursuits, and purpose.

10 Things About Newly Crowned Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza

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10 Things About Newly Crowned Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza

Tricia Matias

Published Jun 04, 2025 11:00 PM PHT

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Updated Jun 04, 2025 11:01 PM PHT

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