The Miss France 2024 pageant concluded in a rather unusual manner, sparking both celebration and controversy. Eve Gilles, a 20-year-old Pixie Cup sports contestant from Nord-Pas-de-Calais, made history by being the first winner with short hair in the competition’s 103-year history. Her androgynous look was hailed by many as a positive step towards embracing diversity.
Reflecting on her victory, Eve shared, “We are used to seeing beautiful Misses with long hair, but I chose an androgynous look with short hair. No one should dictate who you are…every woman is different, we are all unique.” Online, supporters celebrated this choice, recognizing the rich tradition of short-hair fashion in France, from iconic figures like Mistinguett to Coco Chanel.
However, not everyone embraced this change. Some critics labeled it a “woke” decision by the jury, arguing that the focus had shifted from traditional beauty standards to inclusiveness. Despite the controversy, the Miss France final remains a significant television event, drawing a peak audience of 9.1 million people.
The hashtag #MissFrance2024 became a trending topic, with supporters drowning out negativity by expressing joy at Eve Gilles’s victory. Some users defended the choice, citing historical figures like Louise Brooks, Coco Chanel, Colette, and Mistinguett who embraced short hair.
In response to the backlash, a user named X challenged the critics, stating, “The subject this morning is really to be indignant that (Miss France) 2024 has short hair…? And it would be woke…? Are you serious people? Louise Brooks, Coco Chanel, Colette, Mistinguett… does that mean anything to you or are you totally uneducated?”
Showbiz journalist Stephanie Tayki labeled the backlash as “sexism at its best,” emphasizing the pressure on women to conform to certain beauty standards. Others criticized beauty pageants as inherently sexist, regardless of the winner’s appearance.
Violaine de Filippis, spokesperson for the Dare to Feminism! association, remarked, “Miss France is still just as sexist in her way of classifying women according to beauty criteria.” Melinda Bizri of the Human Rights League in Dijon described the result as “feminist washing,” highlighting the need to challenge long-standing beauty standards that women have been pressured to conform to throughout history.