Aufeminin spent a week in Ivory Coast with the 30 regional Misses who hope to succeed Eve Gilles on December 14. I reveal to you behind the scenes of this unique preparatory trip. A look back at the catwalk masterclass coached by Maëva Coucke before the big group swimsuit shoot and the general knowledge test!
“I am convinced that I would not have finished 6th at Miss Universe if I had not had this fall,” says Maëva Coucke, Miss France 2018, during her masterclass to learn how to parade among the contenders to succeed Eve Gilles. The queen of the catwalk has the attitude but above all the experience to pass on like “a big sister”. Moreover, she immediately asks the regional Misses who are participating to speak to her on familiar terms. If the art of the parade was already part of the preparatory trip last year, its teaching by a former Miss is a novelty in Ivory Coast.
The rest after this ad
“They accepted in 30 seconds,” enthuses Frédéric Gilbert, Chairman and CEO of the Miss France Company and Producer of the Miss France election on TF1about Maëva, as well as Diane Leyre who for her part hosts a masterclass on the theme of eloquence. Because if this stay allows the 30 candidates to create links, it is above all the first step to offer an exceptional show on December 14, and knowing how to walk perched on high heels is essential, just like proclaiming a impactful and sincere speech.
The rest after this ad
Maëva Coucke’s #1 tip for parading
The course is broken down into 3 stages: attitude, practice and the question of falling. “In your opinion, what is important when we parade?” she asks. The posture, the smile, the look and the self-confidence… The contenders have the basics. “When you're on stage, whether you're shy or not, put yourself in the shoes of a woman who's going to tear it up.”
“The Miss France stage is very slippery,” she warns. His advice? “Urgently buy skates to put under your shoes, it’s essential. It’s really the first thing to do when you return to Futuroscope,” she assures. It is true that being well equipped is a good start to being confident on the catwalk.
The rest after this ad
Falling doesn't matter: it's knowing how to get up that counts
So now comes the time to talk about the fall. “Falling doesn’t matter, it’s knowing how to get up that counts,” she says, very reassuring towards the young women who are going to prepare an exceptional show. Through this sentence, it is also a beautiful message about life in general that it reminds them of. On a towel, she simulates a fall – the scene is comical, special mention to Miss Languedoc for her simulated fall – and gives them some tips if it ever happens to them. “You will see, now that we have prepared for the worst, everyone will avoid falling this year!”, she concludes, before a collective parade to put it into practice. They deliver!
The rest after this ad
To end this rich day, the 30 young women were finally gathered together for an important moment of the trip: the famous group photo in swimsuits. In a sublime property, they posed in front of the lens before heading to Abidjan for the famous general knowledge test. The days follow one another and are not the same, except on one point: the schedule is busy for the candidates, which prepares them well for their role as Miss.
Editorial manager Aufeminin
Julie Caron has been the editorial manager of Aufeminin since November 2023. After spending 8 years within the Marie-Claire group, as head of the society, psycho, education and lifestyle print sections…
France
