CJ Opiaza to Officially Take the Miss Grand International 2024 Crown on June 3

Christine Juliane "CJ" Opiaza is stepping into the spotlight as the new Miss Grand International 2024, and it's all happening on June 3, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand. This momentous coronation will be held at the MGI Hall, marking a historic win not just for CJ, but for the Philippines as well, she's the first Filipina to ever hold this title.

CJ was originally crowned first runner-up, but due to unexpected events involving the previous titleholder, Rachel Gupta of India, the crown is now being officially passed on to her.

The Miss Grand International Organization (MGI) shared the news on social media last May 29. Their announcement came with a powerful message: "Time tells all. The crown has found its queen." It invited fans around the world to witness this groundbreaking event and celebrate CJ's crowning as the first Miss Grand International from the Philippines.

But the path to this point has been far from smooth.

Just hours before confirming CJ's coronation, MGI President Nawat Itsaragrisil released documents and photos supposedly proving that Rachel Gupta had violated her contract. Among the accusations were unauthorized job bookings and personal deals with sponsors, including a plastic surgery hospital that’s also a major sponsor of the pageant. According to MGI, Rachel arranged cosmetic procedures for her family members without approval, then failed to deliver on her promotional obligations in return for the services.

The organization also shared before-and-after surgery photos, sparking backlash online. While the intention was to justify their decision, some critics felt the posts crossed a line, accusing Nawat of body-shaming.

Rachel didn’t stay silent. On the same day, she posted a lengthy video sharing her side of the story. In it, she said she wasn’t dethroned, she resigned. She described her experience under the organization as toxic, saying she suffered from mistreatment, body shaming, and even hunger.

Rachel also claimed she was forced to do TikTok live selling of cheap products, which she saw as degrading to her position. In her words, the organization “only cares about money” and added that she understood why many license holders were backing out.

Despite the controversy, CJ's upcoming coronation is being celebrated as a proud moment for Filipino pageant fans. After years of coming close, the elusive Miss Grand International crown is finally in Philippine hands.