A dream come true… Wednesday December 31, 1986, during the first Miss France election broadcast on television, Nathalie Marquay won the famous beauty contest and became Miss France 1987. In the light, the one who got a tattoo in tribute to Jean-Pierre Pernaut received numerous gifts from great brands, but also from certain fans… Saturday December 24, 2022, in the documentary Miss France: inside the secrets of the competitionbroadcast on TF1Lou and Tom’s mother remembered: “I received lots of photos of men dressed in suits, in swimsuits. I never had one naked, eh!” Some, however, went further by offering him inappropriate gifts. “I also received men’s briefs. Kangaroo briefs. Real briefs. At the time, they were pretty but oh well…”, she said with humor. In recent years, other Miss France have received marriage proposals. In the documentary, Diane Leyre analyzed: “I don’t think I had any […] We don’t have these kinds of letters anymore. People have a lot more perspective on all that.”
Nathalie Marquay: what memory does she have of her election?
In this documentary, the one who received a magnificent gift from Nikos Aliagas after the death of her husband confided that certain fans had behaved inappropriately after his election. “I was the first Miss France on television. So, I was approached quite a bit all the same. They had no embarrassment. I feel like I belong to them.”, she indicated. However, she has very good memories of her coronation, although her father was not able to attend. With a smile on her lips, Nathalie Marquay – who believes in life after death – remembered: “They voted en masse in Alsace, but really. My mother was at home calling to give her voice, At the time, we didn’t have cell phones. My father did it from a phone booth and he didn’t see my coronation because he kept calling for me.”
Miss France 2024: these gifts that the big winner will win
Every year, the contenders for the title of Miss France are offered a nice list of gifts, even if they have not reached the last four finalists. The beauty contest, directed by Cindy Fabre since the departure of Sylvie Tellier, is the opportunity for one of the 30 regional Misses in the running to collect the coveted sash and crown, but also jewelry, outfits, watches and other hi-tech gadgets. As explained by TF1, broadcaster of the famous ceremony, the big winner will receive a salary each month, in addition to a company apartment or even an electric car, a 16-inch MacBook Pro, a Samsung television , a down jacket offered by Jott, a wardrobe of eight watches offered by Festina, a complete makeup table and salon treatments offered by Sothys, a wardrobe of outfits offered by the brand Le temps des Cerises. But the other Miss France candidates will also be entitled to their little gifts, including an iPad, Festina watches or even two evening dresses and a complete makeup kit.
These inappropriate gestures that Miss France must endure
If the year of reign can be a great career opportunity, becoming Miss France can be accompanied by inconvenience, in particular due to the inappropriate behavior of certain people, elected officials or onlookers encountered while traveling in France (fairs, festivals, etc.). Marine Ltemporel, Miss France 2013, already mentioned it in October 2018, with Tele-Leisure. “I was faced with it as Miss France because Miss France is someone who belongs to the French. And really, there are certain people who feel that way. And yes, I had hands on my butt by Mayors of certain villages. I’ve had people jump on me a little to give me a kiss.”she explained to our colleagues, adding that she felt “attacked in [son] privacy”. To the point that some former winners have to use tricks to avoid “wandering hands”. “Diane Leyre gave me the technique. You have to put your hands behind your back, like that, we are calm, it pushes people away”, revealed Indira Ampiot, Miss France 2023, in The ParisianMay 4, 2023.