“I recently saw Rhône-Alpes again in the theater and Normandie in Reunion”

She is now one of the illustrious natives of Saint-Pierre de La Réunion. Valérie Bègue, always quick to promote her island, had not imagined such a fate. Crowned Miss France in December 2007, the Reunion Islander faced, a few weeks after her coronation, a lively controversy linked to the publication of nude photos in the press. Despite the media storm, she received unwavering support from Reunion Island, including the bishop! Story of an extraordinary journey to read here and listen to in our podcast #MaParole in two thirty-minute episodes.

1From Miss Réunion to Miss France

A studious student, she is passionate about reading, languages ​​and history. At home, she distinguished herself from her brother and sister by refusing to speak Creole, an attitude that surprises her today. At the microphone of #MaParoleshe confides that it was by leaving Reunion Island that she learned to reconnect with her language and to enjoy expressing herself in Creole.

One day on a beach, Valérie Bègue is noticed by an agency director who suggests she start modeling. She then landed a few contracts in Reunion. Every year, she follows the Miss Réunion and Miss France competitions with her family. After obtaining her literary baccalaureate with honors, she flew to the United States and spent a year as an au pair in Connecticut. There, she took journalism courses before returning to Reunion to pursue a BTS in international business.

In August 2007, Valérie Bègue participated in the Miss Réunion competition in Saint-Denis, determined to win the crown. Bet won. But when she learns that she will have to continue the adventure in mainland France, her enthusiasm wanes. An internship in Malaysia awaits her and she wants to prioritize her studies. But faced with the refusal of the Miss France committee to nominate her runner-up, she agreed to represent Reunion Island.

That year, the misses' preparatory course took place in the Dominican Republic. Between photo sessions, general culture courses and maintenance lessons, the candidates, who refer to themselves by their regional names, comply with the “military” organization of the misses. Valérie, alias “Réunion”, sympathizes with Champagne-Ardenne, New Caledonia, and Quercy-Rouergue which no longer exists today.

The Miss France 2008 evening is held in Dunkirk, with Patrick Bruel as president of the jury and Jean-Pierre Foucault as master of ceremonies, all under the watchful eye of the misses' boss, Geneviève de Fontenay. To everyone's surprise, and especially to her own, Miss Réunion takes the crown. Valérie Bègue, who had set herself the modest goal of leaving with a dauphine belt, found herself propelled to the national throne. But instead of savoring the moment, she is terrified by what awaits her and struggles to rejoice, to the great dismay of those close to her. In hindsight, she was hardly wrong: the coronation was announced under great turbulence.

2Despite the storm, she holds on

After her coronation, Valérie Bègue returned to Reunion which gave her a triumphant welcome. But on December 21, 2007, a magazine published photos of her taken before her coronation. However, according to the rules of the Miss France society, the misses cannot compete if they have posed naked. This is the rule and Geneviève de Fontenay seizes it to demand the immediate dismissal of “the miss scoundrel”.

“She just has to stay there.”in Reunion, “I don’t see myself walking around the provinces, in rural communities, escorted by a girl like that”says Geneviève de Fontenay, indignant, on a television set. The controversy quickly took on explosive proportions. Television hosts like Thierry Ardisson do not hesitate to insult Valérie Bègue on the air. Fortunately for her, the miss has the unfailing support of Reunion Island. Politicians from both the right and the left support him, and the local population is generally favorable to him.

Faced with the scandal, Sylvie Tellier tried to defuse the situation and announced a compromise during a press conference on December 28. Valérie Bègue keeps her crown, but she is banned from international competitions and does not accompany Geneviève de Fontenay on her tours. Instead, she traveled around France with other members of the Miss France committee, with whom she has since kept good contact. An “ideal” compromise for Valérie Bègue. The miss does not sink, transforming this year into a real springboard for the rest of her career.

After the end of her mandate in 2009, the miss turned to television where she was welcomed with kindness. She participates in shows on France Télévisions and in the private sector. She became a popular personality, collaborating on charity events and reality TV projects like Dancing with the stars in 2011 or more recently Mask Singer.

Valérie Bègue made her debut on stage in 2010 and admitted in #MaParole take real pleasure in doing theater and going on tour. For three years, she has been performing across France. Currently, she is showing inIt's Cabotinesa period costume play which takes place at the Comédie-Française under Napoleon I. In 2023-2024, she starred in If I had to do it againa play by Laurent Ruquier, and in 2022-2023, it was on the vaudeville bill Boeing Boeing, alongside Paul Belmondo. His dream? Play one day in Reunion.

From 2010 to 2016, Valérie Bègue regularly made headlines in the celebrity press because of her publicized relationship with swimmer Camille Lacourt. Today, she seems to have found the tranquility she was looking for. She lives in Marseille with her daughter and returns twice a year to Reunion Island. In 2014, she joined the Miss jury during the ceremony in Orléans, a real revenge and an honor. Valérie definitely doesn't want to cut ties with a competition.”who gave him so much“She has never missed a Miss France election and plans to follow the next one, surrounded by her friends.”I can’t wait to see who joins the family!”she concludes.

►September 26, 1985

Birth in Saint-Pierre de La Réunion

►August 18, 2007

Elected Miss Réunion 2007, a springboard for Miss France

►December 8, 2007

Elected Miss France 2008 in Dunkirk

►2010

Theater debut

►2023-2024

Valérie Bègue is starring in the play If I had to do it againby Laurent Ruquier