Latest news with #MissFrance
Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
After Gerard Depardieu and Gisèle Pelicot, is France ready to address sexual violence?
The backlash was immediate. Within seconds of her coronation as Miss France in late 2023, Eve Gilles was being hit by a tsunami of online hate. The death threats would come later. The online mob were appalled by the 20-year-old's slight physique and, especially, her cropped pixie haircut. For the first time in more than a century, the Miss France tiara had been placed upon the head of a contestant with short hair. 'Next year they'll pick a bald man,' moaned an outraged armchair warrior. French model Eve Gilles, who was pilloried for her short hair Gilles, a 20-year-old student, became an unlikely focal point for the country's raging culture wars. On one side, her win was sneeringly cast as a 'victory for diversity'; on the other she was held up as a rather unlikely icon of the #MeToo era, with her supporters suggesting that her win signalled that France was finally ready to embrace a movement that had hitherto struggled to gain momentum. The furore around Gilles was proof, if any were needed, that France still has work to do on gender equality. Relatively few high-profile cases of sexual misconduct have been prosecuted since the #MeToo movement arrived in France in 2017, despite the growing number of victims who have come forward with testimony of abuse. Activists are hoping that could finally be about to change, following the conviction last week of the formerly revered actor, Gérard Depardieu , for sexually assaulting two women. His trial was viewed as an important test of how French society and the film industry were addressing allegations of sexual violence. Lawyers for his victims believe that a wider reckoning is under way. READ MORE 'I'm optimistic by nature,' says Carine Durrieu Diebolt, who represented the 54-year-old set dresser who was targeted by Depardieu. 'This was a historic verdict. It shows that mentalities are slowly changing, that artists are no longer treated with impunity.' [ Gisèle Pelicot 'led this fight' for her grandchildren, as ex-husband sentenced to 20 years in mass rape trial Opens in new window ] But that optimism is not universally shared. Yéléna Mandengué, a lawyer and member of the #NousToutes feminist organisation, points out that Depardieu was not in court for the verdict as he's currently shooting another film in Portugal. 'In places like the US, an actor accused of such serious crimes, never mind one who has actually been convicted, would be cancelled. The rich and famous are treated differently here. We call it the French exception. It comes down to our elitist perception of the arts. We don't want our reputation to be tarnished internationally by these allegations, so perpetrators are protected' Gisèle Pelicot, whose husband was convicted of raping her while she was drugged and unconscious, and inviting dozens of men to the family home to abuse her. Photograph: Clement Mahoudeau/AFP via Getty Images The Depardieu sentencing came just months after France was horrified and traumatised by the trial of Dominique Pelicot, the retired electrician who was convicted of raping his former wife while she was drugged and unconscious, and inviting dozens of men to the family home to abuse her. Gisèle Pelicot 's ordeal highlighted shortcomings in French law, most notably the lack of explicit consent in the legal definition of rape, prompting calls for urgent reform. Last month, the lower house of parliament responded by passing legislation expanding the definition of rape to include non-consensual sex. The bill has yet to be debated by the senate, before being returned to the lower house for a final vote. While think tanks such as the London-based Bloomsbury Intelligence and Security Institute argue that the Pelicot case has had a profound impact on public understanding of sexual violence and domestic abuse, Mandengué believes that legal reforms can only go so far, and fail to address deeply entrenched cultural perceptions. She says attitudes will not truly evolve unless there is a wider political will to bring about change. 'The government only discusses sexual violence when it serves its political agenda,' she says. 'Look at our prime minister. In any other country, he would be forced to resign. Instead, he's defended by the president.' An embattled François Bayrou has been at the centre of a widening controversy over decades-long allegations of sexual and physical abuse at a school in his home region in southwestern France. The former education minister denied having covered up the abuse when he appeared before a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday, claiming that he had only been made aware of the allegations through the media. Bayrou's wife had worked at Notre-Dame de Bétharram and several of his children were educated there. One of his daughters now says she was beaten by a priest with links to the school. A survey published just last week found that 70 per cent of women said they had personally experienced sexism in the workplace A separate parliamentary report, published in April after a five-month inquiry, also makes for grim reading. It found that abuse was 'systemic, endemic and persistent' across the French entertainment industry, adding that attitudes were 'barely evolving' with women and children still being 'routinely preyed on'. Sandrine Rousseau, the Green Party MP who led the commission, says the Depardieu conviction is nevertheless an important milestone that illustrates that 'nobody is above the law'. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many women might disagree. A survey published just last week found that 70 per cent of women said they had personally experienced sexism in the workplace, with nearly a third of respondents saying they'd subsequently changed how they dressed as an avoidance strategy, or limited time spent alone with certain colleagues. Another woman who decided to alter how she dressed, or at least how she presented herself to her hundreds of millions of social media followers, took the stand in a Paris courtroom on Tuesday. Hours before Kim Kardashian gave emotional testimony about being held at gunpoint by a gang who stole millions of euro worth of her belongings, a judge asked her stylist if the reality TV star had put herself in danger by publishing images of herself online. Absolutely not, said Simone Harouche. 'Just because a woman wears jewellery, that doesn't make her a target. That's like saying that because a woman wears a short skirt, she deserves to be raped.' As for Miss France 2024, she says she still dreams of one day representing her country at Miss Universe despite the death threats, and the fact that she's once again being pilloried by online haters, this time for dating an older man.
United News of India
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- United News of India
Telangana Govt extends grand traditional welcome to Miss France and Miss World officials
Hyderabad, May 6 (UNI) In a vibrant display of cultural pride and hospitality, the Telangana State Government officials extended a grand traditional welcome to Agathe Lou Cauet, Miss France, on her arrival at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Shamshabad on Tuesday. The ceremony showcased the rich heritage and warmth of Telangana. Alongside Miss France, Miss World Officials Clara Lucy Kate and Emma Louise Gray were also received with similar traditional honours by the state dignitaries. Additionally, a group of Miss World Officials who arrived via British Airways – Irene Gasa Serra, Kwannalyana Ratanaphol Peters, Ana Plz Piqueras De Alba, and Susana Teixeira Ferraz – were greeted with equal enthusiasm and ceremonial warmth. UNI VV KK
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
No wigs please - the new rules shaking up beauty pageants
Long, flowing wigs and weave extensions have dominated the catwalks of Ivory Coast's massively popular beauty pageants for years. Contestants in the West African nation often spend a huge amount of money on their appearance, from outfits to hairdos - with very few choosing the natural look. In more than six decades, there have only been two notable exceptions, the most recent was Marlène-Kany Kouassi, who took the Miss Ivory Coast title in 2022 - looking resplendent with her short natural hair, the crown becoming her only adornment. Her victory was not only unusual in Ivory Coast but across the world, where Western beauty standards are often the desired look both for those entering contests and for the judges. Changes are slowly creeping in - last December Angélique Angarni-Filopon, from the French Caribbean island of Martinique, made headlines when she was crowned Miss France, mainly because of her age - she is 34 - and she also sported short Afro hair. But this year the organisers of the Ivorian competition are shaking things up right from the start. Wigs, weaves and hair extensions have been banned from the preliminary stages of the competition, which are held in 13 cities across the country (as well as two abroad for those in the diaspora). "We want the candidates to be natural - whether with braids or straightened hair, it should be their own. Beauty must be raw," Victor Yapobi, president of the Miss Ivory Coast organising committee, told the BBC. Ivory Coast is the only African country enforcing the ban for a national competition. Mr Yapobi said the organisers in Ivory Coast had long been trying to promote a more natural look - for example cosmetic surgery is a no-no and skin lightening is frowned upon. "We decided this year to truly showcase the natural beauty of these young women," he said. Other changes have also been implemented, like allowing slightly shorter women to compete - the minimum is now 1.67m (5.4ft), increasing the age by three years to 28 and - crucially - lowering the entrance fee by more than $30 (£25) to $50. "This change in criteria is because we observed these young women were putting up a lot of money to participate, and it was becoming a bit of a budget drain." When the BBC joined the first preliminary pageant in Daloa, the main city in the western region of Haut-Sassandra, one contestant was overjoyed by the new rules - feeling it gave her a better chance of success as she prefers not to wear wigs. "I would see other girls with long, artificial hair, and they looked so beautiful," 21-year-old Emmanuella Dali, a real estate agent, told the BBC. "This rule gives me more pride as a woman - as an African woman." The move aimed at celebrating natural African beauty has sparked a lively debate across the country, where wigs and extensions are popular. As a fashion choice, many women love the creativity that wigs and weaves allow them. They also serve as what is called "protective style", which means minimising the daily pulling and tugging on hair that can cause breakages. This was reflected by some contestants in Daloa who felt the rule removed an element of personal expression. "I'm a wigs fan. I love wigs," said contestant and make-up artist Astrid Menekou. The 24-year-old told the BBC she was initially shocked by the no-wig, no-extensions stipulation. "I didn't expect this rule! But now? I like my hair, and that's OK." The new rule has made the competitors think more about concepts of beauty - and changed some opinions, like those of Laetitia Mouroufie. "Last year, I had extensions because I thought that's what beauty meant," the 25-year-old student told the BBC. "This year, I feel more confident being myself." Should the competition influence attitudes beyond the pageant world, it could have huge economic implications. Wigs from human hair, which can last for years if cared for properly, can range in price from an estimated $200 to $4,000, while synthetic ones cost around $10 to $300. Ivory Coast's hair industry is worth more than $300m a year, with wigs and weaves making up a significant share of that market. "This rule is not good for us," Ange Sea, a 30-year-old hairdresser in Daloa, told the BBC. "Many women love wigs. This will hurt our business and we make more money when working with wigs and weaves." At her salon, glue will be used to carefully attach wigs to make them look more natural and women will spend hours having weaves and extensions put in. It shows how deeply engrained wig culture is in West Africa, despite a natural hair movement that has been gaining momentum among black women around the world over the last decade. Natural hair products have become much more readily available and natural hair influencers proliferate on social media worldwide with advice on how to manage and style natural hair, which can be time-consuming. It used to be considered unprofessional to wear one's hair naturally and it would have been extraordinary to see black female TV stars on screen or CEOs in the boardroom with natural hair. According to Florence Edwige Nanga, a hair and scalp specialist in the main Ivorian city of Abidjan, this is often still the case in Ivory Coast. "Turn on the TV [here], and you'll see almost every journalist wearing a wig," the trichologist told the BBC. "These beauty enhancements are fashionable, but they can also cause problems - like alopecia or scalp infections," she warned. With the preliminary rounds under way, arguments over whether pageants should be setting beauty rules or women should decide such things for themselves continues. The outcome may be that there is more of an acceptance of both in Ivory Coast, allowing women to switch styles up - between natural hair and wigs and weaves. Mr Yapobi said the feedback he had received over the new rules was "extraordinary" and clearly showed it was having an impact. "Everyone congratulates us. Everyone, even from abroad. I receive emails and WhatsApp messages from everywhere congratulating us for wanting to return to our roots." He said no decision had been taken about whether the wig ban would apply to the 15 contestants who make it to the final of Miss Ivory Coast 2025. This extravaganza will take place at a hotel in Abidjan at the end of June and will be broadcast on national TV. "If it works, we'll continue and carry on this initiative in the years to come," Mr Yapobi said. For Doria Koré, who went on to be named Miss Haut-Sassandra, her crown holds even more significance: "Winning with natural hair shows the true beauty of African women." Ms Dali said she was walking away with something even more valuable - self-confidence: "I didn't win, but I feel proud. This is who I am." Additional reporting by the BBC's Nicolas Negoce and Noel Ebrin Brou in Abidjan. Are my braids doing more harm than good? 'I'm the best wig maker in Lagos' Being African: What does hair have to do with it? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Miss Ivory Coast pageant bans wigs and weaves to promote natural hair and beauty
Long, flowing wigs and weave extensions have dominated the catwalks of Ivory Coast's massively popular beauty pageants for in the West African nation often spend a huge amount of money on their appearance, from outfits to hairdos - with very few choosing the natural more than six decades, there have only been two notable exceptions, the most recent was Marlène-Kany Kouassi, who took the Miss Ivory Coast title in 2022 - looking resplendent with her short natural hair, the crown becoming her only victory was not only unusual in Ivory Coast but across the world, where Western beauty standards are often the desired look both for those entering contests and for the are slowly creeping in - last December Angélique Angarni-Filopon, from the French Caribbean island of Martinique, made headlines when she was crowned Miss France, mainly because of her age - she is 34 - and she also sported short Afro this year the organisers of the Ivorian competition are shaking things up right from the weaves and hair extensions have been banned from the preliminary stages of the competition, which are held in 13 cities across the country (as well as two abroad for those in the diaspora)."We want the candidates to be natural - whether with braids or straightened hair, it should be their own. Beauty must be raw," Victor Yapobi, president of the Miss Ivory Coast organising committee, told the BBC. Ivory Coast is the only African country enforcing the ban for a national competition. Mr Yapobi said the organisers in Ivory Coast had long been trying to promote a more natural look - for example cosmetic surgery is a no-no and skin lightening is frowned upon."We decided this year to truly showcase the natural beauty of these young women," he changes have also been implemented, like allowing slightly shorter women to compete - the minimum is now 1.67m (5.4ft), increasing the age by three years to 28 and - crucially - lowering the entrance fee by more than $30 (£25) to $50."This change in criteria is because we observed these young women were putting up a lot of money to participate, and it was becoming a bit of a budget drain."When the BBC joined the first preliminary pageant in Daloa, the main city in the western region of Haut-Sassandra, one contestant was overjoyed by the new rules - feeling it gave her a better chance of success as she prefers not to wear wigs."I would see other girls with long, artificial hair, and they looked so beautiful," 21-year-old Emmanuella Dali, a real estate agent, told the BBC."This rule gives me more pride as a woman - as an African woman." The move aimed at celebrating natural African beauty has sparked a lively debate across the country, where wigs and extensions are a fashion choice, many women love the creativity that wigs and weaves allow them. They also serve as what is called "protective style", which means minimising the daily pulling and tugging on hair that can cause was reflected by some contestants in Daloa who felt the rule removed an element of personal expression."I'm a wigs fan. I love wigs," said contestant and make-up artist Astrid Menekou. The 24-year-old told the BBC she was initially shocked by the no-wig, no-extensions stipulation."I didn't expect this rule! But now? I like my hair, and that's OK."The new rule has made the competitors think more about concepts of beauty - and changed some opinions, like those of Laetitia Mouroufie."Last year, I had extensions because I thought that's what beauty meant," the 25-year-old student told the BBC."This year, I feel more confident being myself." Should the competition influence attitudes beyond the pageant world, it could have huge economic from human hair, which can last for years if cared for properly, can range in price from an estimated $200 to $4,000, while synthetic ones cost around $10 to $ Coast's hair industry is worth more than $300m a year, with wigs and weaves making up a significant share of that market."This rule is not good for us," Ange Sea, a 30-year-old hairdresser in Daloa, told the BBC. "Many women love wigs. This will hurt our business and we make more money when working with wigs and weaves."At her salon, glue will be used to carefully attach wigs to make them look more natural and women will spend hours having weaves and extensions put shows how deeply engrained wig culture is in West Africa, despite a natural hair movement that has been gaining momentum among black women around the world over the last decade. Natural hair products have become much more readily available and natural hair influencers proliferate on social media worldwide with advice on how to manage and style natural hair, which can be used to be considered unprofessional to wear one's hair naturally and it would have been extraordinary to see black female TV stars on screen or CEOs in the boardroom with natural to Florence Edwige Nanga, a hair and scalp specialist in the main Ivorian city of Abidjan, this is often still the case in Ivory Coast."Turn on the TV [here], and you'll see almost every journalist wearing a wig," the trichologist told the BBC."These beauty enhancements are fashionable, but they can also cause problems - like alopecia or scalp infections," she the preliminary rounds under way, arguments over whether pageants should be setting beauty rules or women should decide such things for themselves outcome may be that there is more of an acceptance of both in Ivory Coast, allowing women to switch styles up - between natural hair and wigs and Yapobi said the feedback he had received over the new rules was "extraordinary" and clearly showed it was having an impact."Everyone congratulates us. Everyone, even from abroad. I receive emails and WhatsApp messages from everywhere congratulating us for wanting to return to our roots." He said no decision had been taken about whether the wig ban would apply to the 15 contestants who make it to the final of Miss Ivory Coast extravaganza will take place at a hotel in Abidjan at the end of June and will be broadcast on national TV."If it works, we'll continue and carry on this initiative in the years to come," Mr Yapobi Doria Koré, who went on to be named Miss Haut-Sassandra, her crown holds even more significance: "Winning with natural hair shows the true beauty of African women."Ms Dali said she was walking away with something even more valuable - self-confidence: "I didn't win, but I feel proud. This is who I am."Additional reporting by the BBC's Nicolas Negoce and Noel Ebrin Brou in Abidjan. Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
