Unseated MGI queen Rachel Gupta tells CJ Opiaza to protect herself

Resigned Miss Grand International queen Rachel Gupta of India (left) and her successor, Philippines’ CJ Opiaza. Images from Instagram

As CJ Opiaza basked in her new title as 2024 Miss Grand International (MGI) titleholder, her predecessor Rachel Gupta reminded her to protect herself throughout her reign.

Opiaza was treated to a grand coronation on Tuesday by MGI executives, including its controversial president Nawat Itsaragrasil, at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, days after stripping Gupta of her crown for supposed breach of contract and unprofessionalism.

On the other hand, Gupta had accused MGI of mistreatment and harassing her. With her resignation from the organization, Opiaza, who was Gupta’s runner-up in the 2024 pageant, stepped up to fill up the remainder of the latter’s term.

Without mentioning Opiaza’s name, Gupta confessed in a recent press conference that she is “praying” for the Filipina titleholder’s reign, while hoping that the latter wouldn’t be subjected to such experiences.

“I’m sure she must be feeling a lot of things right now. She must be feeling happy to be the new queen, she must be feeling confused, a little bit nervous, and scared,” she said in a clip recorded by Indian media outlet The Savera Times.

“Honestly, I’m praying for her. My heart is with her. I hope to God that she does not experience the same thing I did. But the truth is that this is the organization she is choosing to work with,” she continued.

The ex-MGI winner reiterated that she has a “lot of respect” for Opiaza, while reminding the latter to protect herself and to not allow anyone to make her feel uncomfortable throughout her reign. “I have a lot of respect for her. She comes from a beautiful country, and I’m truly praying that she has a good experience with the organization.”

“My message to her is to please protect yourself, and please know that when they show their true colors — which they will — I will be there for you and please be safe,” she continued. “Please protect yourself and do not let anyone make you feel uncomfortable or targeted.”

Gupta also underscored that the MGI organization “might try extra hard” to ensure Opiaza will have a “good reign” following the “negative press” surrounding it.

“I really think that the organization might try extra hard to give her a good reign right now because of all the negative press they’ve gotten, so I think they might try to prove that they’re doing a good job with her and they might give her an extra special reign, and be more attentive. I think that’s the case,” she said.

Opiaza has yet to publicly address Gupta’s remarks toward her, as of this writing.

The Zambales-based titleholder is the first Filipina to clinch the golden crown, which had always been elusive to the country for years.

Other Filipinas who came close to winning the MGI title were Samantha Bernardo and Nicole Cordoves in 2020 and 2016, respectively. /edv