Eve Gilles, a 20-year-old “androgynous” contestant with a short, boyish haircut, was crowned Miss France 2024, sparking debate and accusations of the pageant going "woke".
Gilles, representing the northernmost region of France, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, became the first contestant in history with a pixie cut to win the title at the final in Dijon.
Breaking Beauty Standards
“We’re used to seeing beautiful Misses with long hair, but I chose an androgynous look with short hair,” she said after her victory, adding that every “woman is different, we’re all unique”.
Gilles has been vocal about her desire to diversify beauty standards and modernize the pageant, which has faced criticism for being sexist.
"I would like to show that the competition is evolving and society too, that the representation of women is diverse, in my opinion beauty is not limited to a haircut or shapes that we have... or not," she said on stage Saturday.
Public Divided on Judges' Decision
The Miss France contest is judged half on public vote and half by a panel of seven female judges.
The judges' decision to crown Gilles was met with mixed reactions. Some on social media criticized the move, calling it "woke" based on inclusiveness, and claiming Miss France is no longer a beauty contest. Others defended Gilles and the judges, arguing that beauty comes in many forms and that the pageant should be inclusive.
“Maybe the new #MissFrance isn’t gorgeous in your eyes, but seeing wokeism in her because she has short hair.... It’s just ridiculous,” one fan posted.
Political Figures Weigh In
Left-wing French politicians, including Green MP Sandrine Rousseau and communist party national secretary Fabien Roussel, spoke out in support of Gilles. They condemned the criticism she faced and emphasized the importance of accepting women in all their diversity.
Modernizing the Pageant
The Miss France organisation has attempted to modernise itself in recent years by opening up the competition to candidates of any age, mothers, wives, and even trans women. The first time a trans woman competed in the Miss Paris contest was in 2022.
However, some critics argue that these changes are merely superficial and that the pageant still perpetuates harmful beauty standards.
The crowning of Eve Gilles as Miss France 2023 has sparked debate about beauty standards, inclusivity, and the future of the pageant itself. While some celebrate Gilles' win as a step towards progress, others criticize it as pandering to political correctness. The controversy highlights the complex and often contradictory ideas about beauty and gender that continue to shape our society.
