PH's CJ Opiaza to be crowned as new Miss Grand International queen on June 3

Christine Juliane "CJ" Opiaza is set to be crowned as the Miss Grand International 2024 queen following the resignation of India's Rachel Gupta.

The beauty pageant organization announced that Opiaza's crowning ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 3, at 3 p.m. (Philippine time).

"Time tells all. The CROWN has found its QUEEN," they wrote. "Join us for the official coronation of Miss Grand International 2024 Christine Juliane Opiaza, the first-ever Grand Queen from the #Philippines. Be part of this historic moment."

Fans can stream the pageant live on the GrandTV YouTube channel. 

Opiaza was crowned Miss Grand Philippines in September 2024, succeeding Nikki de Moura. After the Filipina beauty made it to the top 10 during the finals night, she delivered a powerful message addressing the wars happening in several parts of the world.

"In a world filled with trauma and uncertainties, there is another world that we live in. It is within. How we see ourselves is a reflection of how we perceive our surroundings. The moment we feed our hearts with hatred, envy, and anger, we create a monster, a human who doesn't fear pain and suffering, nor empathy," she said.

"Now is the time to mend what is broken, win in our inner struggles, act ethically and with respect, and rise above all the atrocities. Together, let us feel the missing pieces of our individuality, and let us all repair the broken pieces of this world," she continued.

This comes after Gupta relinquished the crown following her claims of mistreatment by MGI executives. In her video statement, the 21-year-old beauty queen said the Miss Grand International organization "only cared about money" and that it was "impossible to work" with them. 

She added that despite her hard work, all she got in return was "constant harassment, mental torture, mistreatment, and it's on a systemic level."