On France 2, Maëva Coucke talks about the cyberharassment of which she was a victim

CYBERHARASSMENT – Since her election in 2017, Maëva Coucke has been fighting against cyberharassment and there is still a long way to go. The former Miss France spoke in the show In Olivier's eyes during an episode dedicated to cybersexism and cyberharassment. Broadcast on France 2 on January 22, the documentary highlights the testimony of several women with different backgrounds.

« This is the first time that a Miss has spoken about it openly and with hindsight. I want to help raise awareness about cyberbullying. This is not a subject to be taken lightly, victims commit suicide », she explains to The Voice of the North to justify his speech.

As she explains to Olivier Delacroix, when Maëva Coucke is elected on December 16, 2017, she does not think that her crown as beauty queen will have such serious consequences. From the first hours after his election, criticism arose. “ Breadboard », « anorexic », « joystick »… « People threw at me the criticisms I had to face in college. They were very difficult years. I wasn't comfortable with my body. And there, it no longer came from children but from adults. I felt like I was going back in time. “, she declares. In addition to cyberharassment, she admits to receiving obscene videos and photos from famous men on a daily basis.

An attack on his privacy

In 2021, Maëva Coucke and François Bonifaci made their relationship official on social networks. A romantic approach which quickly turns into a nightmare for the young woman. A few months earlier, François Bonifaci had a relationship with influencer Chloe Beinc. “ This was worse than the physical criticism. I was made to pass for what I am not: a man thief, which is false “. Once again, insults and inappropriate comments are multiplying on the social networks of the former Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais. “ Of all the waves of cyberharassment I had to face, this was the one that affected me the most and hurt me the most », she testifies in the documentary.

« I know that by speaking out I will catch myself a wave behind », specifies Maëva Coucke, who on the other hand knows today that she is more armed in the face of hatred. Unlike her year of reign as Miss France. “ We thought we had reached the summit with Eve, and we realize that not with Angélique, where racist remarks are mixed. We are not prepared for this. I accompanied the candidates to Ivory Coast and warned them that victory would be accompanied by a wave of hatred ».

The former Miss France now works on social networks as a content creator, with the help of an agency specializing in digital. “ My community that follows me is caring. Insults have become rares”. Through her testimony, she hopes to raise awareness among the general public on the issue of cyberharassment.

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