behind the scenes of the election that changes everything

For the public, it is Sabah Aïb, 18 years old, who should have brought yet another crown to her region, Nord – Pas-de-Calais, the true land of Miss. The viewers’ votes put her in the lead, just ahead of Angélique Angarni-Filopon. But the jury decided otherwise, offering its very first coronation to Martinique. A historic victory, a real achievement for this Miss elected at 34 years old. An evolution that looks like a revolution for the oldest beauty contest in the world, made possible thanks to the lifting, in 2022, of the age limit for candidates, previously set at 24 years old. This change in regulations allowed Angélique to try, or rather retry, her luck: she had already won the sash of first runner-up to Miss Martinique in 2011. “When the Miss France company decided to remove the age limit, I seized the opportunity,” reveals with a smile the flight attendant who chose to hang up her uniform to win the crown of Miss Martinique 2024, and thus her ticket to the grand national final.

From the start of the competition, in mid-November, with the departure of the thirty candidates for the traditional preparatory trip to Ivory Coast this year, the oldest Miss attracted attention. That of her colleagues from the Corsair company, who accompanied the delegation and whom she met with amusement at the airport. That of her comrades, who immediately took a liking to this caring big sister nicknamed “auntie”. But especially that of the members of the Miss France society, some younger than her. If Aurianne, the chaperone, coped with it without too much difficulty, the 27-year-old eloquence teacher, Diane Leyre (Miss France 2022), had more difficulty: “It questions my legitimacy. »

Low blows

But quickly, through her gentleness and good composition, Angélique made us forget the age gap and found her place in a promotion that was nevertheless moderately welcoming. “Last year, there was a lot of mutual aid and cohesion, and that is less the case this year,” said Frédéric Gilbert, CEO of the Miss France company and producer of the election, on the eve of the election. ’emission. The candidates are more individualistic, they win. » Even if it means shoving a poorly placed comrade on stage, rather than kindly asking her to move… But in the face of low blows, Angélique Angarni-Filopon keeps a cool head. With a certain maturity. “We can’t get along with everyone, so it’s normal for there to be tensions. I took a lot of perspective on anything that could be negative. »

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Until the day of the election, Miss Martinique was not among the favorites. On social networks, fans only have eyes for Miss Côte d’Azur, Miss Nord – Pas-de-Calais or Miss Tahiti. Only artificial intelligence ensures that it has its chances. In its prediction revealed four days earlier, the consulting firm Avisia named her as potential first runner-up. A ranking which is mainly based on data from social networks, analyzed with the help of AI. Are Internet users content to debate the place of a thirty-year-old Miss in the competition, or are they starting to develop a serious interest in this candidate?

During rehearsals, Miss Martinique performs her choreography on stage, but does not sparkle next to the candidates who sway to the tango and samba numbers. Her feminine appearance even stands out somewhat in the youthful picture devoted to the sixties… On the other hand, she savors the one which celebrates the music of the 1990s, that of her childhood.

Serene, always, Angélique reserves her best assets for the big evening: her eloquence and her “little story”. When her comrades play the shoulder and the awkward punchline, she touches the jurors and spectators over 30 years old right in the heart. “In 2011, a young woman aged 20 finished first runner-up in the Miss Martinique competition. Today, it is this same young woman of 34 years old who is standing before you […]to represent all the women who were once told it was too late. » With a naturalness that bursts through the screen, Angélique secures her place in the top 5. And upsets the audience by evoking her mother, present in the room, and the breast cancer she faced two years ago. “Life has taught me that giving up is absolutely not an option. »

The jury’s vote prevailed over that of the public, more divided than ever

During the fateful moment of questions from viewers, she wins everything with her structured response to the new diversity of candidates. She says this is the key to the competition’s continued success. A repartee which eclipses its four competitors and their hazardous responses. However, when she finds herself facing Miss Nord – Pas-de-Calais for the grand finale, doubt persists, as this region mobilizes every year for its candidate. But the jury’s vote prevailed over that of the public, more divided than ever in the face of its beloved beauty contest.

When Ève Gilles (Miss France 2024) places the crown on her head, Angélique Angarni-Filopon is overwhelmed by emotion. Torrents of tears which soften his new fans, while his first detractors are heard. If many applaud the symbolism of a 34-year-old Miss France, and the certain arrival of other thirty-year-old candidates in the competition from next year, they are just as likely to cry scandal and political voting. Miss Martinique crowned for her unique profile and her “little story” more than for her beauty, especially compared to the perfect appearance of Miss Nord – Pas-de-Calais? Inconceivable for the most conservative fans of the competition. The candidates still parade in ball gowns and swimsuits, as they did one hundred and thirty years ago.

It’s no longer the “be beautiful and shut up” competition. Today’s candidates have courage and nerve

Jean-Pierre Foucault

However, “this is not (only) a beauty contest”, as Magritte could have written. To continue to attract nearly 8 million viewers on TF1 in 2024, Miss France must be beautiful, and above all, she must have a story to share. Better, that it embodies the future. “It’s no longer the “be beautiful and shut up” competition. Today’s candidates have courage and nerve,” says Jean-Pierre Foucault. Another guardian of the temple, another point of view: for Michelle Beaurain, Miss France 1970, who was among the former beauty queens invited this year, “a Miss is a young lady, not yet a woman”.

The leaders of the Miss France company assure that the age of their new queen will not change anything. They will accompany Angélique throughout her year, as they did with the previous winners. They have already had to adapt and put up a shield in recent months to protect Ève Gilles, the “Miss with short hair”, in the face of violent criticism. Elected by the jury – against the public – for her unique profile, she had paid the price. An experience which could perhaps benefit Miss France 2025, even if she seems to have strong shoulders.

True to herself, Angélique Angarni-Filopon remains above the fray. She savors her victory with her two parents, who quickly find her on stage and take part in the interview game. This first Miss France sash for Martinique is also their success. Both from Martinique, they left their island for professional reasons and settled in Île-de-France, in Val-d’Oise, where their daughter was born. “I grew up in Vauréal, in a small house filled with love. My father [ancien élu politique et brigadier-chef, NDLR] wanted us to be close to our origins, so we participated in all the events that brought together the West Indian diaspora in France. And every year we went on vacation to my grandparents in Martinique. We were immersed in this culture, because my grandfather lived in the countryside and my grandmother didn’t speak French very well, so that forced us to speak Creole. »

“I am constantly reminded of my age, and I think I am well preserved! That’s young, 34 years old! »

It is also towards the island of her heart that Angélique turned two years ago, to rebuild herself after depression due to a romantic breakup. She settled in Fort-de-France where she became a flight attendant.

Today, she admits to being “still on cloud nine”, while trying to get rid of the label that already sticks to her crown. “I am constantly reminded of my age, and I think I am well preserved! That’s young, 34 years old! », she says with a burst of laughter, during her first press conference. She had prepared herself well for the criticisms and clichés. “I expected it. But I am much more than that. You will see. » Better than a promise, a challenge.