the boss of Miss France, Frédéric Gilbert, responds to criticism of the 100% female jury

He's the man behind one of the most watched shows of the year. Frédéric GilbertCEO of the Miss France company, was the guest of “Buzz TV” this Friday, December 13, on the eve of the new edition of the competition Miss France broadcast live on TF1 from Futuroscope. “I took over as president on January 1, after the departure of Alexia Laroche-Joubert. I have been in the world of Miss since 2008. My role is to run the Miss France company all year round.», Explains the person concerned on our “Buzz TV” set, while specifying that he accompanies the reigning Miss all year round on her travels.

This year marks the thirtieth edition of Jean-Pierre Foucault's presentation. The production has a surprise in store for him on this occasion. “If I tell you, it's complicated because he doesn't know it! It will be at the opening of the show», Indicates Frédéric Gilbert only. For the third time in four years, the jury will be 100% female, chaired by Sylvie Vartan, with among the members: Nawell Madani, Cristina Cordula, Fauve Hautot and Marie-José Pérec.

Why do men no longer seem welcome? Frédéric Gilbert responds to the criticisms made by Pascal Praud and Cyril Hanouna. “It was not a decision to make a 100% female jury», would like to correct the one who was producer of “Grand Quizz” on TF1 and “À l’état sauvage” on M6. “We contacted men but I think there is a certain restraint in coming to the jury. With everything that has happened, the #MeToo movement must have played a role. When we contacted the personalities this year, we realized that we had a lot more immediate feedback from women and after the fifth, (…) we went all the way”. And to conclude on the subject: “Next year, I hope we will have men».

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The greatest difficulty of this great barnum represented by the “Miss France” ceremony is “thefair treatment between candidates», immediately responds Frédéric Gilbert before listing examples. “The portraits are timed to the nearest second. In all the scenes, with Stéphane Jarny, the director, we ensure that the camera axes are the same when the candidates parade individually. With director Franck Broqua, we organized a sort of camera ballet so that the candidates had the same air time», he describes again.

The audience peaks during the speeches of the 15 semi-finalists

Frédéric Gilbert, CEO of the Miss France company

On Saturday evening, we will have to wait until midnight:40 to find out who will succeed Eve Gilles, Miss France 2024. Frédéric Gilbert hopes to reach, at least, the average audience of last year. “We had broken records on the famous housewife under 50, reaching 60% audience share and 86% among 15-34 year olds”he recalls. The peak of the ceremony comes during the speeches of the fifteen semi-finalists. “It lasts 24 minutes and it doesn't let up for a second. Ten years ago, the audience peaks were for swimsuit segments. It proves that mentalities have evolved», he rejoices again.