It is at the Arena Futuroscope that the election of Miss France 2025 will take place on December 14, 2024. Enough to revive memories for Alain Fouché. The former mayor of Chauvigny is inexhaustible on the competition. “Do you know that Monique Chiron, Miss France 1959, who was from Poitiers, was then married to the director of The New Republic ? », he asks.
On December 9, 2006, as president of the general council of Vienne, he found himself center stage for the election of Miss France 2007, which will see the consecration of Rachel Legrain-Trapani at the Futuroscope convention center. Encounter.
Geneviève de Fontenay absolutely wanted to talk about Ségolène Royal
Alain Fouche
The Miss France competition and Futuroscope are becoming a long story.
Alain Fouche: “This will be the third time after 1996 and 2006. In 1996, at the time of René Monory, it was Christiane Martel, a Châtelleraudaise elected Miss Universe in 1953, who was president of the jury. »
Ten years later, you are on the front lines.
“The candidates arrived two or three weeks before the election, for rehearsals with choreographers and fashion stylists. They were supervised by Geneviève de Fontenay and Sylvie Tellier, a former Miss France who had joined the Miss France company. »
I was forbidden to talk about Futuroscope because it was commercial. In fact, I only talked about Futuroscope
Alain Fouche
Geneviève de Fontenay has long embodied the competition.
“I met him several times, notably with Philippe Mouroux who was René Monory's chief of staff. She was an authoritarian woman, with a temperament, sometimes quite harsh, but the candidates liked her because she had a maternal side. I had participated in a prejury with her for a first selection, and her son as well. The jury was chaired by Michel Sardou and Muriel Robin. »
Why did you want to organize this event?
“It doesn’t cost very much compared to the Tour de France or Intervillesa game that we then hosted in 2007. Above all, in terms of television audience, it is incomparable. We had reached eleven million viewers. »
Ségolène Royal almost stole the show…
“Geneviève de Fontenay had a political side (she has always claimed her commitment to the left). Ségolène Royal was president of the Poitou-Charentes region and Geneviève de Fontenay absolutely wanted to talk about her. We had the greatest difficulty in making him understand that it was the Department which was the organizer. »
Did you speak?
“I spoke on the microphone around 11 p.m. alongside the host Jean-Pierre Foucault, a wonderful man, very kind. A true professional. I was forbidden to talk about Futuroscope because it was commercial. In fact, I only talked about Futuroscope. To all of Jean-Pierre's questions, I always answered Futuroscope, all the time, to say that it was at the same time an amusement park, a business incubator, a training place…”
The Miss France competition is very controversial. What is your point of view?
“For me, it’s a competition of elegance, beauty and fashion. It is not imposed, the candidates wish. Why would we ban it from the moment it is organized with physical and moral respect for the person, and everything is well structured? In 2006, we didn't have a single problem. Afterwards, it is an image of France, of fashion. And there are jobs behind it all. »
Will you be attending the event on December 14?
“Normally, yes. »
