Waking up to traditional Creole songs led by a folk troupe, all accompanied by a barefoot dancer, little white dress with bare shoulders, is a privilege reserved for candidates for the election of Miss France 2022. The first maracas began their gentle serenades in the aisles of the plane of the company Air Austral, partner of the event this year ... at 5 am French time! A little more than ten hours before, the 29 contenders for the crown, left the soil and the Parisian frosts towards the “intense island” (that's the nickname of Reunion) of the Indian Ocean.
On the program for the week, with a view to the election of the future Miss France on December 11 in Caen: visit of the Piton de la Fournaise, local side, and “catwalk” and good manners lessons, training side.
This year, those who are called upon to express themselves more on stage as desired by the new captain of the Alexia Laroche-Joubert competition, will be entitled to a course in eloquence and some notions of theater, in order to prepare for the fateful moment live in front of millions of viewers.
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But in the meantime, it's time to wake up in the cockpit of the enormous plane of more than 400 travelers.
While the flight attendants serve freeze-dried coffees and teas to tourists and businessmen, the young women get down to business: re-makeup.
Not always the most obvious with a few air holes but essential given the welcome worthy of heads of state that awaits them at Roland-Garros airport.
No question of fetching their suitcases like simple passengers.
The descent will be made directly on the tarmac where several dozen journalists are waiting for them.
Connected smartphones, many are filming live for local media social networks.
Amandine Petit in support of the pretenders
With particular attention to the regional stage, Miss Reunion, Dana Virin, who had to fly back and forth since Monday to participate in the launch of the week in Paris… before returning to her land. "Miss Reunion, who can be recognized with her long black hair, is well accompanied by all the Miss from Overseas", comments with the airs of sports journalists, a young tattooed woman working for a local news site.
Obviously, she will be the first to embark on an improvised choreography, under 29 degrees despite the early hour. Sylvie Tellier in an orange linen pantsuit, small Louis Vuitton bag in her hand, rearranges the whole troop for a group photo, prominent airline sponsor. Her outfit does not go unnoticed. “It is very orange, this year, Sylvie, slips a keen observer among the 80 people of the team of the trip of the Miss. We feel that in 2022, that will be his color. A reference to her dress the day before during the press conference at TF 1.
After a new conference with local oils, the whole delegation moved to the Ness By Ocean Hotel, on the beach.
As soon as they arrive, Miss France 2021, Amandine Petit, takes her role of chaperone very seriously with the new arrivals in "the family".
With her bamboo crown, she sits among the other "girls" and responds to their curiosities in the hotel lobby.
The Misses are separated into several groups for reasons of management, only a small handful will end the afternoon with the paddle activity, after obviously having gone to HMC, a technical term for “Dressing, Make-up, Hairdressing”.
The others are sleeping… before a busy week of intense training.