Long Live Wokeness, Long Live France
PERLA CRESPO-IZAGUIRE
@perlaccs
From Miss France to Miss Venezuela: The Diversity Revolution
Hey there! So, last Saturday, I was chilling and flipping through TV channels when I stumbled upon Miss France. As a Venezuelan, I'm naturally curious about beauty pageants, especially since I'm used to the glitz of Miss Venezuela.
Originally, I just wanted to check it out before binge-watching "The Crown" on Netflix. But guess what? I got totally hooked on Miss France! The way they let viewers vote for their favorite contestant blew my mind. It's all so inclusive and modern.
The musical performances caught my eye too. Instead of big singing stars, the contestants themselves did simple but cool dances and showed videos of their activities before the big night. I was especially impressed with their visit to French Guiana (where I live) and the outgoing Miss France's work with women battling cancer. Super charming and touching!
However, I did miss the stylish swimsuits and gorgeous gowns from Miss Venezuela. The French pageant's outfits were a bit too kitschy for my taste. I mean, France is known for fashion, right? But their elegance was nowhere to be seen!
The worst part? The gala dresses. They looked like something out of a 1980s' prom. Miss Venezuela, on the other hand, gives new designers a chance to shine, which adds beauty and flair to the event. That's something worth copying!
Aside from the fashion, the pageant was lovely. The contestants were all beautiful and diverse in size, skin color, and style – just like France's diverse population.
Long Live Wokeness, Long Live France
The outgoing Miss France was a stunning mixed-race girl from Guadeloupe. Not unusual, as France has had other beauty queens like her. But what made this year stand out was its 'woke' vibe.
The questions and answers during the final round were very telling. One question referenced Simone de Beauvoir's quote about becoming a woman, hinting at transgender issues. The candidate smartly answered it by emphasizing the importance of not stereotyping women. Another question, asked to the eventual winner Ève Gilles, was about bullying.
‘No One Should Dictate Who You Are’
20-year-old Eve Gille
Ève shared her own experience with bullying, inspiring others to speak up. She'd faced criticism for her short hair and androgynous look, making her an unlikely winner. But her message was clear: "No one can tell you who to be."
When Ève won, it was a historic moment – the first Miss France with short hair in 100 years, and she's all about changing how math is taught and encouraging girls into science.
The Big Change
You might think beauty pageants are trivial, but they're actually amazing. Seeing serious questions about teen pregnancy asked at Miss Venezuela, or a plus-size Miss Nepal rocking the Miss Universe stage, shows we're entering a new era.
I used to be tired of seeing the same perfect, unrealistic beauty everywhere – in media, social media, movies, and ads. It wasn't healthy. But now, these pageants are breaking away from old, simplistic, and sometimes degrading standards.
Some people might criticize these changes, but they're part of a revolution that's redefining and reinventing beauty in pageants. Long hair and perfect figures are becoming a thing of the past, making way for a new era where authenticity and diversity shine.
So what's next? Well, we're just starting to write this new chapter, and it promises to be full of surprises with a narrative where diversity and authenticity are the stars. Stay tuned, because there's more to come!