Like Real Madrid in the Champions League, certain regions competing in the Miss France competition, broadcast each year on TF1, regularly monopolize the top of the podium: Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Guadeloupe, Alsace , Ile-de-France… We can no longer count the numerous victorious misses from these territories – including Eve Gilles, Miss France 2024 -, real war machines to delight scarves and crowns.
And then there are regions which earn little, if at all. Auvergne, Martinique, Limousin and even Champagne-Ardenne have never won the competition and come up empty in each election. How does it feel to be among the outsiders of Miss France? Are we losing hope against the big favorites?
“It’s a challenge”
Since the creation of the competition, not a single Miss Auvergne has worn the winner’s sash. There have been two 2nd runners-up, Maryline Brun in 1999 and Clémence Oleksy in 2010. But never a crown. “It’s frustrating, in the sense that we don’t see why we would never have a Miss France,” explains 20 Minutes Mélanie Billard, Miss Auvergne regional delegate. But I’m not frustrated, on the contrary, it’s a challenge. Nord-Pas-de-Calais, the PACA region… Everything they do is great, we have to do that too. »
Not far from the Auvergne volcanoes, the Limousin region, which experienced a spotlight with Sophie Vouzelaud, first runner-up to Rachel Legrain-Trapani in 2006, is also chasing her scarf. And she too is still happy for her well-off little comrades, not without a little touch of bitterness. “Nord-Pas-de-Calais, we tell them that we’re tired of seeing them, that’s for sure!” laughs Nadine Preece, regional delegate. But it’s not bad. Good for them, they are doing what is necessary. But they also have the means that we don’t have. »
The fervor aroused by the competition is not the same everywhere. Furthermore, certain regions are also increasing the number of local elections (more than fifteen in Nord-Pas-de-Calais compared to 4 in Limousin) and attracting more financial and logistical partners. A fight with unequal weapons?
“Absolutely, but it also motivates us,” replies Nadine Preece. It is also said that in certain regions, young girls are prepared well in advance. As soon as they are 16 years old, we try to detect the potential for Miss France. It’s worse than a sport! We fight, but it’s good natured. What interests us is to have a pretty, interesting young woman who represents France. »
Revitalize and modernize the competition
The Miss Auvergne delegation does not dispute this outsider status. “It’s factual, there has never been a Miss Auvergne elected Miss France. We are not necessarily expected,” recognizes Mélanie Billard. But the tide could turn: “This year, our Miss is one of the favorites, she is very popular, especially on social networks. Romane Agostinho really has everything it takes to be Miss France. I even say that if it’s not this year, it will never be! »
To lead her candidate to the top, Mélanie Billard pulled out all the stops. Starting with the development of departmental elections, essential, according to her. “It’s like a business, you have to develop it for it to succeed. The fact of covering the territory (with different elections before the regional one) creates a culture, people wait for these events every year. In Auvergne there has never been that, it has never been very structured,” she explains.
There is also a lot of communication work to dust off this competition. “People still have this image from 25 years ago of a chic girl who is going to do her fashion show. It’s a shame, because Miss France managed to modernize this competition, to make it something attractive for young girls. My idea is to reproduce this in the region. Participating in the Miss Auvergne election means taking part in a flagship event which honors women and allows them to shine for their knowledge, their charisma, their speech… To assert themselves beyond beauty” , believes Mélanie Billard.
Top-level sportswomen
On the Limousin side, we are also working hard to try to win a Miss France crown. “Every time, every year, we think about and work on everything. We also have more and more people to prepare these young girls: a mental, vocal coach, etc.,” lists Nadine Preece.
Winning this competition is more than a question of physical criteria. Young women are now expected on their qualities of eloquence, their sympathy but also their ability to withstand media exposure, in the media or on social networks. We still remember Eve Gilles, who the day after her election, had to justify having short hair… However, not all the contenders for the title are equipped to resist the weight of this Miss France scarf and its consequences.
“They are ambassadors,” underlines Mélanie Billard. We need girls who are prepared, like high-level athletes. In the big regions, they are coached, which has never been done in Auvergne. Today, we make sure to fully support our miss. She took theater classes, she saw a mental and physical trainer… We also put her on lots of events to get her used to being in contact with people and speaking. »
The new deal
Beyond this 360-degree preparation, the new rules of the competition could also make it possible to reshuffle the cards. If you still have to be over 1m70 tall, other criteria have been relaxed. Candidates can now wear tattoos, be in a relationship or have children. Likewise, there is no longer an age limit for entering the competition. To a certain extent, we can expect to discover misses with somewhat different profiles.
In Limousin, we remain hopeful of being awarded the title of Miss France one day. And we also cling to the smallest victories. “We had several sympathy scarves (awarded by the other candidates), we ended up having the regional costume one, the photogenic one… We’ve had all that in recent years anyway! It’s comforting. And there was also Aude Destours, Miss Auvergne 2017, who ranked 4th runner-up. It brought a little comfort to our hearts,” confides Nadine Preece. Does Miss France 2025 have in store for us yet another victory for the favorites or the revenge of the outsiders?
