Miss France has crowned its oldest ever champion after more than 100 years of strict age limit rules.
Angélique Angarni-Filopon declared her win – at the age of 34 – as proof that it is ‘never too late’ to change your life or career.
The flight attendant, who represented the French Caribbean island of Martinique in the contest, said she hoped her victory would inspire others to pursue their dreams.
She said she was representing ‘Martinique, its diaspora as well as all the women who were once told that it was too late.’
The pageant, which has been running since 1920, previously stopped women over the age of 24 from entering, with a rule change in 2022 also opening it up to mothers and married women as organisers said they wanted to ‘change with the times’.
Contestants must still be at least 5ft 7in tall, and pledge not to gain weight, change their hairstyle or display tattoos or piercings during their 12-month reign.
A 52-year-old woman also entered the contest this year but did not make it past the regional stages, French media reports.
Ms Angarni-Filopon said after collecting the tiara: ‘People are always talking about my age. I think I am well-preserved. I have not got wrinkles.’
The pageant champion beamed in a pink and white gown as she was awarded the title
The flight attendant, who represented the French Caribbean island of Martinique in the contest, said she hoped her victory would inspire others to pursue their dreams
Back in 2011 aged 21, the beauty queen failed to qualify for Miss France, finishing runner-up in the Miss Martinique competition.
She said at the weekend: ‘The thirties are perhaps the best age. In my twenties, I spent a lot of time trying to find out who I was. I wanted to be like everyone else.’
The pageant champion beamed in a pink and white feathered gown as she was awarded the title, and proudly said in her winner’s speech: ‘My short hair and my age absolutely don’t define me.’
She told Le Parisien that she had not expected to win. ‘At each of the regional elections, I said to myself, “oh, yeah they [other competitors] are very beautiful”, and I saw victory moving away.
‘I told myself that this experience would be great. But it was very very far, in my head, from telling myself that I was going to win.’
She was among 30 contestants from around France’s regions and territories who made it to the final, and went up against doctors, dentists and students.
Her prize reportedly includes up to €60,000 (£50,000) over the next year, as well as the use of a Paris flat near the Arc de Triomphe, and various gifts from sponsors.
It comes after a bizarre row erupted over the 2023 winner’s hairstyle.
Eve Gilles faced backlash and even misogynistic abuse for being the first Miss France winner to sport a pixie cut.
She was among 30 contestants from around France’s regions and territories who made it to the final
‘We’re used to seeing beautiful Misses with long hair, but I chose an androgynous look with short hair,’ Ms Gilles said at the time.
She praised her victory as a win for ‘diversity’ and added: ‘No one should dictate who you are,’ she said after her victory Saturday night, adding that every ‘woman is different, we’re all unique.’
It is among a series of recent events which have thrown the place of pageants in modern society into sharp focus.
Last week, the organisers of Miss Netherlands announced that the pageant was being scrapped after 35 years.
Miss France 2024, Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais Eve Gilles, is seen on stage after winning the title
‘Times have changed and we are changing with the times,’ the organisers of the pageant said in a statement.
Instead of running the competition, director Monica van Ee has set up a platform entitled ‘no longer of this time.’
This platform aims to share stories of successful women but also those struggling with, among other things, social media and unrealistic beauty standards.
‘No more crowns, but stories that inspire. No dresses, but dreams that come to life,’ organisers said.
