She was very afraid, our Miss France 2020! On the night of Friday to Saturday, Clémence Botino was in his apartment, that of the company Miss France made available to the winners, when a fire occurred in this condominium on rue des Ternes, in the XVIIth arrondissement of Paris. The tragedy left one dead and a dozen injured. Rescued by firefighters, the 23-year-old woman, elected beauty queen in December, was not hospitalized. Now housed in a hotel, she is recovering from her emotions. She returns to this event and her atypical coronation start.
How are you ?
CLÉMENCE BOTINO. It's okay. I was afraid ! But it was more fear than harm. That same evening, I started to smile again. But there was a backlash, back and forth. Fortunately, I am very surrounded, I have not been touched and I am alive.
Were you asleep when the fire started?
No, but it took me a long time to react. I heard the fire alarm but I did not tilt right away because we do not imagine that this could happen to you. I heard screams and I thought that neighbors had drunk a little. I opened the door to my apartment and saw people running around, screaming. And above all, this huge cloud of smoke. I wanted to take the stairs but it was impossible because I live on the 4th floor and there was too much smoke. I went back home and locked myself on the balcony, closing the windows. However, with stress, I left the door of the apartment open and the smoke returned. There were many at my place.
VIDEO. Fire in Paris leaves one dead and two seriously injured
What did you think about on the balcony?
I had to stay there for an hour while waiting for the firefighters. I felt a mixture of fear and panic. Fortunately, I was not in contact with the fire. I could not see the flames because I am on the street side when the fire started on the courtyard side. But I wondered where the fire could arise. I was afraid of not coming back. We are not prepared for that! I was in touch with relatives on the phone who told me not to worry. And my neighbors tried to calm me down, especially the couple whose apartment is to the right of mine, who kept saying to me: "Clemence, it's going to be fine. Tell us about your day. My neighbor below sent me a towel soaked in water because I had nothing to cover my face. And the elderly person who lives above reassured me too. There was great solidarity.
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You have been evacuated by the large scale. Not too scared?
No. I was relieved. The firefighters were nice until the end. The one who helped me get off encouraged me all along. They say they are our heroes, but when we see them intervening, when the building was black and it was unbreathable, and they save people, we measure their prowess. They were our last hope. Afterwards, I saw them exhausted, rinsed. Thanks to them.
Did they know they were delivering Miss France 2020?
I didn't tell them! There was no longer Miss France at that time. Just Clemence. And I didn't even have shoes anymore! Since then, I went back to my apartment: everything is black with soot and I don't know what will be recoverable. I took the objects I wanted, and my crown and the scarf of Miss France, of which there is only one copy. We'll see if we can wash it. At worst, it will be a little darker!
With the cancellation of the events around the Misses, that of the festivals due to the Covid and now this fire, your year of coronation takes a very particular turn. Not too disappointed?
When the fire started, I thought 2020 was really a weird year. And we are only in July! At the time, I wondered what was going to happen again and how was the year going to end! But, a guardian angel watches over me. We must continue to live, resume the rhythm.
VIDEO. Clémence Botino: "Miss France is also the promotion of women"
Are you hitting the road to follow the Miss elections in the regions?
Many events were postponed in September, October and the end of the year will be overloaded. There, I will participate in 4 regional elections at the end of the month, notably in Montpellier (Hérault) and in Corsica. It's curious. Usually, the first six months after the election of Miss France are our time and the last six are dedicated to our succession. There, I will already participate in the election of the one who will succeed me. I have the impression that there was no transition! I stay positive, I have a lot of energy. I hope that there will be no more small worries and that the rest of this year will be peaceful and calm!
Do you think about after Miss France?
First, we will have to prepare Miss Universe, the international competition in which I wish to participate. Everything will depend on the dates: it should not fall at the same time as Miss France, in December! Afterwards, I would like to continue my studies in art history to go to the end, have a master's degree, while juggling with the Misses.
During your confinement in Guadeloupe, you made videos on various subjects. A little journalist?
I took the opportunity to produce content and I hosted a column on the weekend on a local radio where I called the elderly. I'm trying to come up with cool topic ideas. At one time I wanted to do journalism. Thanks to my art studies, I like to build an argument. And I script a little bit on digital. This allows me to share and I take great pleasure in it. I try to find unusual buildings in Paris and tell their stories and I would also like to do fashion subjects.
How was your experience on Fort Boyard, where we will discover you this Saturday on France 2?
It was incredible to be in this place and very moving. The arrival is impressive! During the tests, I sometimes wanted to be elsewhere because it was epic. However, I was happy and I gave the best of myself! I had to eat a hot pepper in front of Willy Rovelli and I don't recommend it!