Eve Gilles, who won Miss France 2024 with a short, boyish hairdo, sparked discussion about pageants becoming more “woke.”
After Eve Gilles, a 20-year-old “androgynous” competitor with a short, boyish hairstyle, won Miss France 2024, the pageant was accused of becoming “woke” and controversy erupted.
At the Dijon final, Gilles—who competed on behalf of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, the northernmost region of France—became the first-ever competitor to win the championship without a pixie cut.
Transcending Beauty Conventions
“After winning, I went for an androgynous look with short hair, because we’re used to seeing beautiful Misses with long hair,” she remarked, emphasizing that “every woman is different, we’re all unique.”
Gilles, who has been criticized for being sexist, has been outspoken in her goal to modernize the contest and broaden beauty standards.
“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 stated on the platform on Saturday.
Public Opinion Split on Judges’ Ruling
A panel of seven women judges judges the Miss France pageant, with the public voting for half of the total points.
Reactions to the judges’ choice to crown Gilles were not unanimous. On social media, several expressed disapproval of the decision, branding it “woke” due to its inclusivity and asserting that Miss France is no longer a pageant. Others praised Gilles and the judges, saying that inclusivity should be a part of the pageant and that beauty may take various forms.
“Maybe the new #MissFrance isn’t as attractive as you think, but her short hair speaks wokeism to me. It’s just absurd,” a fan wrote.
Politicians Offer Their Views
Prominent left-wing French politicians expressed their backing for Gilles, such as Fabien Roussel, national secretary of the communist party, and Green MP Sandrine Rousseau. They denounced the abuse she received and underlined how crucial it is to embrace women in all of their uniqueness.
Bringing the Pageant Up to Date
In an effort to modernize, the Miss France organization has allowed candidates of any age to enter, as well as mothers, wives, and transgender women. In 2022, a transgender lady participated in the Miss Paris pageant for the first time.
Some opponents counter that the contest continues to promote damaging beauty ideals and that these improvements are only surface-level.
The selection of Eve Gilles as Miss France 2023 has spurred discussion about diversity, beauty standards, and the pageant’s future. Some see Gilles’ victory as a step in the right direction, while others see it as a concession to political correctness. The dispute draws attention to the nuanced and sometimes at odds conceptions of gender and beauty.
Summary
Eve Gilles, the 20-year-old androgynous winner of Miss France 2024, has sparked controversy over the pageant’s modernization and inclusivity. Gilles, who competed for Nord-Pas-de-Calais, became the first-ever competitor to win the championship without a pixie cut. She emphasized the importance of diversity and the representation of women in beauty. The Miss France pageant has allowed candidates of any age, mothers, wives, and transgender women to enter, but some critics argue that the contest still promotes damaging beauty ideals. The selection of Gilles as Miss France 2023 has sparked discussions about diversity, beauty standards, and the pageant’s future, with some viewing it as a step in the right direction, while others see it as a concession to political correctness.
