a first,two rival French contest winners claim their crown

[dede22]

In a first, two rival French beauty contest winners claim their crowns
By FRANCE 24

For the first time in history, France has produced two major beauty queens: Laury Thilleman of Brittany was elected Miss France 2011, while Barbara Morel of Provence took home the title of a rival pageant launched by the former Miss France organizer.
It was a weekend to go down in French history: for the first time ever, France produced two major beauty queens from rival contests.


[color=#FF0000]Miss france 2011

On Saturday, 19-year-old business school student Laury Thilleman of Brittany was elected Miss France 2011 by viewers of television channel TF1 in the traditional competition. But the very next day, that contest’s long-time organizer, Geneviève de Fontenay was busy hosting her own spin-off: the "Miss Nationale-Geneviève de Fontenay 2011" pageant, in which Barbara Morel of Provence, also 19 years old and a student, was selected by a jury.

Miss nationale 2011

Fontenay had been president of the Miss France committee since 1954, but recently sold the competition to French production company Endemol.

“France deserves two winners”, Fontenay declared to the French press. “The French will choose the one they prefer. My winners have always adhered to the values I promote - dignity under all circumstances, respect of oneself and of others”.

Though she initially remained involved in the contest’s organization, disagreements with Endemol led Fontenay to leave the contest entirely. According to widespread rumours, Fontenay felt that the company did not respect her standards for the contestants. She was said to be particularly unhappy with revelations that certain former participants had previously posed nude.

When she said that she planned to set up a rival competition, Endemol took the 78 year-old icon to court. The court ruled in Fontenay’s favour.




New contest, old icon

The Miss France 2011 contest attracted one million fewer viewers that last year’s edition. But the winner said she was glad to have participated in the older French beauty contest. “For me, Miss France is the only prestigious contest, a myth and a dream”, Thilleman told the French press. “I really didn’t see myself participating in a parallel competition”.

Meanwhile, the winner of Fontenay’s “Miss Nationale” competition, which was held in Paris, couldn’t seem to disagree more. One of 25 contestants to model evening gowns, one-piece swim suits and wedding dresses in front of an audience of 600, Morel said it was Fontenay, and not the name of the contest, that made her title special. “Mrs. de Fontenay is a symbol representing values that are more important than the Miss France label”, she told French reporters.

The winner of the contest was chosen by a jury led by journalist Henry-Jean Servat. Other jury members included a television personality, an Olympic fencing champion and two former Miss France winners. The seven finalists had been selected by 40,000 Internet users who voted on the Web site of French weekly magazine Télé Loisirs.

Reflecting on her new endeavour, Fontenay said: “A page of my life was turned last night, and it’s bittersweet”.

But, she added, her new contest would be back next year[/color]

[mybadname]

then after the staging of the two contest, who will be sent to miss universe? for sure the winner of miss france! so what's the purpose of miss nationale? is she going to join international pageant? which pageant?

[SantifromItaly]

then after the staging of the two contest, who will be sent to miss universe? for sure the winner of miss france! so what's the purpose of miss nationale? is she going to join international pageant? which pageant?

Yeah..Miss Nationale got the franchise for Miss International..

[hybrid]

then after the staging of the two contest, who will be sent to miss universe? for sure the winner of miss france! so what's the purpose of miss nationale? is she going to join international pageant? which pageant?

Yeah..Miss Nationale got the franchise for Miss International..

no miss nationale doesn't have the franchise for miss international , it's endemol who paid the franchise, however this year Sylvie Tellier (miss france national director) didn't want to interfere when Geneviève de Fontenay decided to choose all by her self the french representant for miss international, because she didn't want to "create more dramas and more conflict with Geneviève"

[SantifromItaly]

then after the staging of the two contest, who will be sent to miss universe? for sure the winner of miss france! so what's the purpose of miss nationale? is she going to join international pageant? which pageant?

Yeah..Miss Nationale got the franchise for Miss International..

no miss nationale doesn't have the franchise for miss international , it's endemol who paid the franchise, however this year Sylvie Tellier (miss france national director) didn't want to interfere when Geneviève de Fontenay decided to choose all by her self the french representant for miss international, because she didn't want to "create more dramas and more conflict with Geneviève"

Thank you for explaining!

[minivaan]

I understood a bit of this but can anyone translate?

[hybrid]

I understood a bit of this but can anyone translate?

she is not miss france international she is "miss nationale".

[Jon A]

then after the staging of the two contest, who will be sent to miss universe? for sure the winner of miss france! so what's the purpose of miss nationale? is she going to join international pageant? which pageant?

France is not like Philippines. They don't care at all about Miss Universe. The national contest is what matters to them, and the name Genevieve deFontenay is synonymous with the contest. That national title is a symbol of what the French consider ideal in a young woman, and the new contest puts this to test.

So in some sense, this is more like Miss America versus Miss USA. It will be very interesting to see what will happen.

[LADY WINTER]

OMG - This is really a bit confusing. But I like Miss France 2011 beauty over Miss Nationale 2011. Miss France 2011 is very Miss Universe material. She gives me that Hollywood Beauty vibes.

[dede22]

i like miss national she is woooooooooooooow

[minivaan]

she is not miss france international she is "miss nationale".[/size][/color]

yea i know but since I read on GB that she was going to MI next year.

but what are they saying, like when they brought up an interview of MF saying congrats to MN

[What_is_Beauty]

Competition is good for business!

[giathu]

Yeah, I'm confused too. So are they two separate pageants entirely? Like Miss USA and Miss America? Or are the contestants in both pageants the same but Endemol chooses Miss France and Fontenay chooses Miss Nationale?

[hybrid]

Yeah, I'm confused too. So are they two separate pageants entirely? Like Miss USA and Miss America? Or are the contestants in both pageants the same but Endemol chooses Miss France and Fontenay chooses Miss Nationale?

Miss nationale and miss France are 2 separate pageants with different contestants. Mme de Fontenay just created Miss Nationale this year as she left miss france organisation.

[Jiwa_Matahari]

That Fontenay lady sure knows her game, hehehe... This is exciting!

[Trevorwin]

the judges had made their decisions and Miss Angola came out the winner. In fact she was one of those that I admired in terms of the look, poise and the physique, from looking at a few pre-Pageant night event, along with Ukraine, USA, China, and Australia. People are entitled to their own opinions, though. But that does not take away the judges' decision on the winner. Enjoy yourself Miis Angola and congratulations on your win!