She is probably the French people's favorite Miss France and, while the 2025 election is being held this December 14 on TF1, Élodie Gossuin spoke in an interview with “Journal des Femmes”. Salary, company apartment, what happens to his crown… it tells us everything!
This December 14, the 95th edition of the Miss France competition will take place. An important date for Élodie Gossuin, crowned Miss France 2001 and become presenter, who regrets nothing about this period of her life! We spoke with the woman who, with the naturalness and sincerity that characterizes her, immersed herself for us in this very special period of her life. Exclusive interview and revelations.
Eve Gilles, Miss France 2024, confided that she did not remember being stressed the evening of her election. And you ?
I was overcome by many feelings because we are diving into a new world. I remember being amazed but also stressed because I had no idea what was going to happen. On the other hand, I knew that my destiny could change and that nothing would ever be the same again.
When Sonia Rolland placed the crown on your head, did you have a moment of astonishment?
Totally! I had dreamed of experiencing this moment and at the same time I was terribly afraid of what was going to happen and I only wanted one thing: to find my parents, my brother and my sister! I was afraid of finding myself in a golden prison and of no longer deciding anything about my life. The next day, I asked Geneviève de Fontenay if I could go home and that same evening I slept in my teenage bedroom. It's funny to talk about this today because it's quite revealing. Since then, I have moved to live in the same village as my parents and I believe that nothing is more important than family to move forward.
“I was transformed after my year of reign”
How did you experience your reigning year?
Like a whirlwind that is both destabilizing and enriching. I had moments of doubt when asked questions from journalists that made me uncomfortable or when there were rumors surrounding my so-called transsexuality during the Miss Universe pageant. Before becoming Miss France, I was a very young woman of 19 who needed to stay with her parents and at the end of my year of reign, I became a young woman who always needed to be with her family, but who was much more assertive. Between the evening I am elected and the evening I hand over my crown, I am even physically transformed!
Did you live this year in a company apartment like Miss France does now?
No, I lived in a studio which was right next to Geneviève de Fontenay's house located in Saint Cloud. So I wasn't living in the Parisian frenzy like the Misses now. Whenever I didn't feel well, I went to see Geneviève and I never felt alone.
Did you receive a salary like you do now?
No, we were housed, fed and cleaned and we were paid for the services performed as Miss France but we did not receive a salary strictly speaking.
Would this crazy adventure have been the same without Geneviève de Fontenay?
Of course not. She had the same values as my family and helped us stay in real life. When we slept in palaces, the next day she made sure that we slept with locals after the gala evenings. We would go grocery shopping ourselves and sometimes we only had a can of green beans to eat. In fact, it allowed us to have the weapons to transform the test after our year of reign.
You recently confided in an interview that you liked being put in your place by Madame de Fontenay!
Totally! We always debrief everything until the last moment. After Miss France, she remained as my undeclared, unpaid and unofficial press agent (laughs). Whatever I did, I needed her to debrief me because I knew she would be honest. And even when I didn't ask her, she always messaged me saying, “I'm proud of you, that was great.” She always had a kind eye on me. And even when it was negative, I heard her arguments because she was right and it was always to help me move forward.
“There is a beautiful sisterhood between Miss”
Geneviève de Fontenay had her character. Do you understand that it could provoke support or rejection?
I hear her, because indeed, she was very honest, loyal, honest and big-mouthed. She didn't need to fit into a mold to be decorous. Politically I sometimes had difficulty following her even and I did not share some of her opinions but I respected them because contrary to what one might think she was far from being normal.
Are the Miss France election evenings important to you?
They are even essential! Between the Misses, there is real solidarity and a beautiful sisterhood. We exchange and talk to each other all year round. I often go to parties and not necessarily to show off. I also want to support Cindy Fabre and show her that I am there if she needs. Cindy was also close to Geneviève and she is a worthy heir. This year, I will not be present because I celebrate my birthday on the 15th but I will follow the election from my living room and will always do so because it is the most beautiful line on my CV.
Where is your Miss France crown?
She sits in my house! I've already broken it several times because I'm a cool mom and the little girls who come to the house love wearing it! Even my daughters have already wanted to wear it and I was very proud to put it on their heads.
With Agustin Galiana, you present the evening “M6 Make the 31st on New Year's Eve” with a plethora of guests who will sing festive hits from the 60s to today. Do you like presenting this show format?
I love it because it's a family celebration that brings everyone together in front of the TV. We also present it thinking of those who will be rather alone that evening to bring them a little smile and glitter. This is everything I love because it is the mission that I have today and which consists of bringing a little joy of life through the programs that I embody. As I speak to you, I am going to the Armand Trousseau hospital to do a pediatric-oncology gala for children with the Tout le monde contre le cancer association.
You will be very present during the upcoming holidays!
Indeed, on December 24 I will present Gold records of the year on M6 and, between Christmas and New Year's Day, I will be on RTL in the show Stop or Again. I am also very proud to be the voice of the new showHoliday on Ice baptized No Limits which will be on tour throughout France from February 7.
What do you have planned for Christmas Eve with your husband Bertrand Lacherie and your four children?
This year, we will all be gathered on the evening of the 24th at our home. We always spend Christmas with my parents, my sister, my brother, my mother-in-law and all the children. And then, we always try to bring a lot of little surprises. The main thing is to never forget how lucky we are to be a united family! What a gift of life!
Exclusive interview which cannot be repeated without mention of the Journal des Femmes.
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