The Miss at the "Puyfolais".
This is not the title of a San Antonio, but the epilogue of a surreal year for the organization of Miss France.
Disrupted - with local selections in video - and a time threatened, the election of the new beauty queen will take place this Saturday live from Puy du Fou (Vendée).
Like twelve years ago, the event of more than three hours of live (TF 1, 9 p.m.) will be held in the heart of the De Villiers family park on an original idea by Sylvie Tellier, also Vendée because from Les Sables d 'Olonne.
The great chef of the Misses has not only inherited from her regional origins the taste of mogettes (this white bean from the corner that she eats on grilled toast) but also the love of the amusement park, the local pride.
The last kilometers before arriving set the scene.
The fog, even at the end of the morning, this Thursday, is getting thicker and thicker.
“It's normal, there is a microclimate because we are on the highest point in the region.
It is a pride, for us Puyfolais, to make discover our so particular world.
It's not a sect ”, laughs the driver, 28 years old and 26 in the service of Puy du Fou: he was already appearing in a landau in the Cinescenie show.
In a citadel, you will sleep ...
Funny impression on arrival at "the Citadel", the hotel in which the candidates sleep.
Plunged into the mist, "the harrow", a huge mobile armed gate at the entrance to the fortified castle sets the tone ... Especially since the Park is empty of its thousands of usual visitors.
"You might come across Jacquouille," slips an employee, laughing.
At the entrance, the decor is chilling.
In a reconstituted village à la Kaamelott, three floors of cobbled passageways, dark corridors decorated with skewers of onions or sausages hanging on the wall, shelter rooms with curtains… in heavy chain mail.
The "girls" have been cut off from the world for two weeks, and only one per room.
“Everyone goes to bed at 9:30 pm, there is nothing to do around.
Suddenly, they are super-concentrated ”, slips Stéphane Jarny, the artistic director and director.
In the common areas, dark taverns where the team dines, the ultra-present music polishes the atmosphere: a concerto of troubadours flutes, Gregorian chants, sometimes accompanied by the sound of croaking frogs, punctuate these timeless days.
In this “medieval hotel” as Jean-Pierre Foucault describes it, meals are served at “l'Ecuyer Tranchant”, a tavern lit by the simmering of an artificial fireplace.
It is here that the entire jury, made up solely for the centenary of the beauty contest by former Miss, lives.
Long table and empty seats ...
During the show which will be held in the covered room of the “Carrousel”, all will be behind a stand much longer than usual.
"We have the largest table in the history of French television, it measures 11 meters for the eleven jurors", laughs Frédéric Gilbert, artistic producer.
Social distancing requires, they will be separated by a Plexiglas and will each have a return screen to better judge the contenders, against one for two usually.
Last twist: this Saturday there will be only 86 people in the stands with a capacity of 3200 people… instead of the three hundred announced.
Counter-order from the Prefecture of the Vendée this Friday at 5.30 p.m .: only the 28 former Miss invited for the centenary, and two accompanying persons per contender, will be able to sit in the room.
Barrier gestures for handing out the crown ...
“Limousin
(Editor's note: all the Misses are called by their region name)
, you are too close to the others, yells Mehdi Kerkouche, the choreographer.
Come more in front of the horse
(plastic on stage)
my cat ”.
In full rehearsal for two days on the huge stage, the contenders refine their dance steps.
“The choreographies have been slightly adapted, since each Miss, like the dancers who accompany them, are tested every two days.
But there will be fewer litters and no checks.
They will not clap their hands and will make little signs from afar ”.
Finally, last change on stage and in size: the crown will be deposited from the back by Clémence Botino and not from the front to avoid a face-to-face too close.
Our three favorite Misses
Miss Provence: April Benayoum.
Last year, Lou Ruat, the previous Miss Provence, ultra-favorite, had her hair done on the pole by Clémence Botino.
What if Provence took its revenge this year?
April Benayoum made us crack and not only because his coronation would please Jean-Pierre Foucault who has always dreamed of a Miss from home.
This liana of a meter 96, of which the grandmother Georgette Ivaldi, was elected Miss Marseille in the years 1950 (it cannot be invented) could finally follow in the footsteps of its elder.
Miss Burgundy: Lou Anne Lorphelin.
This intellectual has her head on her shoulders ... And it is in the family.
All eyes are on Marine Lorphelin's little sister, Miss France 2013. Not enough to impress the Miss Burgundy who shows up to have her own experience.
The young woman with lagoon eyes, originally from Mâcon (Saône-et-Loire), won the famous general culture test with a score of 17.5 / 20.
Currently in a master's 2 in a work-study management school in a major cosmetics brand, she has everything a great one.
Miss Alsace: Aurélie Roux.
She had already tried the Miss France adventure at 19, being elected Miss Haut-Rhin, but had given up, for lack of maturity.
At 24, this student, holder of a chemistry degree, gave up everything to become a professional dancer this year.
This Beyoncé fan has a crazy presence, with her blonde afro cut and see-through eyes.
