Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza admitted that she gave her support to Nawat Itsaragrisil, President of Miss Grand International Organization, when the latter was involved in the Miss Universe controversy.

During a quick interview at the Jojo Bragais flagship store in Quezon City on Dec. 17, CJ related how she learned of the incident via the news.

"Wala na ako that time sa thailand, so nakikita ko na lang yung news online and sa mga pageant media. There are different stories na and ang dami na rin iba't-ibang perspectives (I was not in Thailand at that time, so I only saw the news online and in the pageant media. There are different stories, and there are also many different perspectives)," CJ said.

The beauty queen wants to refrain from commenting on the incident since she was not involved.

But she advised the public not to believe everything reported in the news.

"I would say, you cannot fully 100% tell because you're not part of what happened, you really don't know. It has different angles, so you cannot say this thing because this is the angle that you saw. Let's not believe in the one-sided story," she added.

According to CJ, she immediately sent a message to Nawat when the news broke out.

"Actually, even nung lumabas na yung news nagmessage ako kay Papa Nawat sabi ko, "Kaya mo yan Papa Nawat, laban lang, (Actually, even when the news came out, I messaged Papa Nawat and said, "You can do it, Papa Nawat, just fight)" she said.

She believes the incident stemmed from a mere misunderstanding.

"I think kasi ganun nga yung nabuo na perspective pagdating kay Papa Nawat but sabi ko nga maiintindihan mo lang talaga if you step your foot already inside and when I was there iba talaga (I think that's the perspective that developed when it came to Papa Nawat, but I said you'll only really understand if you step foot inside the organization and when I was there it was really different)," she said.

When asked if she was able to see Nawat after the incident, CJ said yes, recalling their short encounter at Miss Grand International 2025 Emma Tiglao's homecoming celebration.

"Nagkita kami pero sobrang saglit lang kasi I was coming from a charity event, wala akong time to have a quick conversation with them kasi ongoing yung parade that time pero after the press conference, we had a little talk nagkamustahan lang ganun (We met but only for a short while because I was coming from a charity event, I didn't have time to have a quick conversation with them because the parade was ongoing at that time but after the press conference, we had a little talk, just saying hello)," CJ said.

CJ gave credit to Bragais shoes for giving her added confidence when competing.

"I remember meron akong certain pageant na gustong-gusto ko sumali dun just because magkakaroon ako ng sponsored shoes ng Bragais. I cannot remember yung specific design pero I think Pia or Maxene ata yun. So the pageant was way back in 2015 or 2016 in Ilocos. So, that was my first pair (I remember there was a certain pageant that I really wanted to join just because I would receive sponsored shoes from Bragais. I cannot remember the specific design, but I think it was a Pia or a Maxene. So the pageant was way back in 2015 or 2016 in Ilocos. So, that was my first pair) ," she said.

Since then, CJ has been keeping a pair.

"Ganun siya ka-important for me kasi I feel like if I have a pair of Bragais, I can wear a crown," she said.