She is 34 years old, with short hair, and is from Martinique. She is the oldest Miss France since the contest began 95 editions ago. Her selection has created controversy in a country where this contest, considered outdated by much of society, still has some media echo. It airs in prime time and is one of the most-watched broadcasts. The competition had decided, for the first time this year, to change the rules and eliminate any age limit.
Angélique Angarni-Filopon, who had already competed in the contest in 2011, becomes Miss France on her second attempt. "In 2011, a 20-year-old young woman won the Miss Martinique contest. Today, it is this same young woman but at 34 years old who stands before you to represent Martinique once again, its diaspora, and all the women who were told one day that it was too late," she stated last Saturday after receiving the award.
Angarni-Filopon, born on October 9, 1990, is a flight attendant and works for the French airline Corsair. She is the oldest woman in history (95 editions) to win the prize. Achieving this was, as she pointed out last Saturday, a dream for her: "It is a dream I have pursued for a long time. At 34, I have a different view of life and the desire to be an inspiring woman on a large scale. This shows that there is no expiration date for women who want to be Miss France."
Her selection has been controversial, and she has faced criticism on social media. Her predecessor, Eve Gilles, has denounced the cyberbullying campaign against the new Miss France, who is criticized for being too old, having short hair, or being too thin, among other things. "Cyberbullying campaigns are a crime under French law," Gilles reminded.
The rules of this contest, increasingly questioned for its frivolity and the role it assigns to women, have evolved little. The criteria for the age limit to participate in the contest have just been modified, which was at 24 years old, and now transgender women who have changed their gender on their civil registry can apply, but physical criteria still persist, such as being a minimum of 1.70 meters tall and not publicly consuming alcohol or tobacco. Nevertheless, the contest was watched by seven million viewers on Saturday.
In addition to being the oldest and having short hair (which some consider not fitting the beauty standard), Angarni-Filopon has been questioned for not being married and not having children. There has been controversy over the treatment she received from a presenter in a television interview, who emphasized this fact. "You are more beautiful in person," he said. "Well, this year, in my opinion, you will not be looking to have children," he commented. She replied, "It's a private matter."
"What is the first thing you look for in a man?" the presenter continued. At first, the new Miss France tried to evade the question. The president of the Miss France contest came to the rescue: "Well, maybe she is not looking for a man".
"I expected [the criticisms], but I don't pay attention to them, just like with having short hair. I am much more than that. I also want to highlight my energy," she stated in an exclusive interview with Paris Match.