How Jojo Bragais made the Alexie Brooks-CJ Opiaza meeting possible (2025)

The Miss Philippines-Eco International Alexie Brooks (left) and Miss Grand International first runner-up CJ Opiaza/ARMIN P. ADINA

Before she left for the 2025 Miss Eco International pagent in Egypt, Alexie Brooks drew excitement from fans when she posted a video showing her training pasarela (pageant walk) with 2024 Miss Grand International first runner-up CJ Opiaza.

The monumental meeting of the two fan-favorite beauty queens became possible because of one man — international Filipino pageant shoe designer Jojo Bragais.

“I tried to ask Sir Jojo if I can tap Ate CJ. And he actually did help us together. So yesterday we trained at the Jojo Bragais store,” Brooks told INQUIRER.net in an interview before she flew to Egypt.

“Actually, I really wanted to train with her. I love her walk, who doesn’t?’ the Ilongga national athlete said about the Filipino “Pasarela Queen,” whose stage presentations have delighted pageant fans around the world.

Brooks said Opiaza was “really funny” and “easy to be with,” and they both joked around while training. “I really had a great time with her. She’s such a good mentor, and such a good friend,” she said.

Most of her stage routines for the 2025 Miss Eco International pageant finale will come from her training with Opiaza, Brooks revealed.

Opiaza also shared other tips, aside from pasarela. Brooks quoted her as saying, “i-enjoy mo lang, beh (just enjoy it, friend). If you’re having fun, if you’re enjoying it, really you have nothing to lose. Have fun! You’re not gonna be doing this every year of your life. So you own it. So, if you’re up on that stage, kainin mo (kill it)!”

Brooks is also riding on Opiaza’s momentum as a winning mentor, coming from the recent victories of her trainees, 2025 Reina Hispanoamericana Dia Mate and 2025 Miss Grand Thailand Saranrat Puagpipat.

“I’m really hoping that I’m gonna be the third. I’m really excited that, just the fact that we had a training together, I felt more confident. I felt more ready knowing that a fellow queen helped a fellow queen. That’s woman empowerment. So I’m really happy. And I hope I get the crown,” Brooks said.

She also shared how she felt her late grandmother’s presence while preparing for the international competition. Her “Lola Basing” passed weeks after she was crowned as The Miss Philippines-Eco International at the culmination of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant in May last year.

One time, after a long day of training for pasarela, gym workouts, and question-and-answer coaching, she got too exhausted. Then a P5 coin just rolled toward her feet while there was nobody around her. She looked it up online. “The definition of it, spiritually is, someone who passed away is telling you ‘good luck’ or sharing love,” Brooks shared.

There was also a butterfly that lingered around her for a week, and thought it was her grandmother watching over her. It is a common belief that the fluttering creature represents a loved one who had passed.

Brooks is competing for the Philippines’ third victory in the Miss Eco International pageant, following Cynthia Thomalla in 2018 and Katheen Paton in 2022.

She had already placed second in the talent contest, and made it on the shortlist for the Best in Resort Wear and Best in Eco Dress awards, won by the delegates from the United Kingdom and Ukraine, respectively. Brooks is currently ranked second in the “Miss Eco People’s Choice” online poll.

The 2025 Miss Eco International final competition show will be held at the AlZahraa Ballroom of Hilton Green Plaza in Alexandria on April 19 (April 20 in Manila).