Miss Grand International 2024 first runner-up CJ Opiaza. Image: Armin P. Adina/INQUIRER.net

A university in Zambales has issued a statement apologizing to 2024 Miss Grand International first runner-up Christine Juliane “CJ” Opiaza for a major mixup on a congratulatory tarpaulin hoisted on the campus to welcome her.

Three months have passed since she came so close to winning the Philippines’ first Miss Grand International crown in Thailand, but Filipinos still continue to express their admiration for the pageant veteran.

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One of the major stops in Opiaza’s victory celebration was her home province of Zambales which she always carried in her long and colorful pageant “career.” But a major boo-boo was caught on camera by eagle-eyed pageant fans.

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A photograph posted by Aubrey Martine on social media showed a tarpaulin displayed at President Ramon Magsaysay State University welcoming Opiaza to its campus in Iba town in Zambales. But the image used was that of Indian beauty queen Rachel Gupta who won the 2024 Miss Grand International title.

“We extend our sincerest apologies regarding the oversight in the welcome tarpaulin prepared for Ms. Christine Juliane Hinkle Opiaza fondly known as Ms. CJ Opiaza, Miss Grand Philippines 2024, and first runner-up in Miss Grand International 2024. Regrettably, the image used on the tarpaulin was mistakenly that of Ms. Rachel Gupta, the winner of Miss Grand International 2024, instead of our esteemed honoree,” the university said in a statement posted on social media.

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“We deeply regret this error and acknowledge that it does not reflect the level of care and attention that we strive to maintain at President Ramon Magsaysay State University (PRMSU). We understand the significance of accurately celebrating the achievements of our honorees, and this mistake may have inadvertently caused confusion or disappointment,” it added.

According to the group, the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) is seeking feedback from stakeholders on recommendations to follow several measures as they received a bulletin from the government body informing them of five international standards on textiles published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) intended for adoption under the Philippine National Standards (PNS).

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Miss Grand International 2024 Rachel Gupta’s image is used for a tarpaulin welcoming Filipino queen CJ Opiaza. Image: Aubrey Martine

The university said the error was unintentional and they are taking immediate steps to rectify the mistake. A new tarpaulin that shows Opiaza’s image will be displayed to replace the erroneous one.

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“We are also reviewing our processes to ensure that such oversights do not happen in the future. Our commitment remains steadfast in upholding the values of excellence and integrity that define PRMSU,” it added.

Opiaza made the rounds of competitions before she got her chance to represent the Philippines in the 2025 Miss Grand International pageant, joining school, town, and provincial tilts.

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She clinched her first national title in 2016 when she was crowned Miss Bikini Philippines and represented the country in the Miss Global Beauty Queen contest in the same year.

Opiaza was also crowned Binibining Zambales 2016, Miss Agoo 2018, Miss Econest Philippines 2018, and Ambassadress of the World-Philippines 2019.

She competed in the 2022 Binibining Pilipinas pageant and was first runner-up in the 2023 Miss Universe Philippines competition.

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She joined the 2024 Miss Grand Philippines contest and won the crown just three days before flying to her international competition.

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Opiaza is the third Filipino woman to finish second in the Miss Grand International pageanthit-bonus, following Nicole Cordoves (2016) and Samantha Bernardo (2020). The Philippines has never posted a win in the global tilt.

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