Floriane Bascou loves challenges and Miss Universe is a big one.
On the night of Saturday January 14 to Sunday January 15, Diane Leyre's first runner-up, Miss France 2022, will face 83 candidates from all over the world to try to win the coveted crown in New Orleans.
She hopes to follow in the footsteps of Iris Mittenaere, crowned Miss Universe in January 2017. Sporty at heart – her brother, Dimitri Bascou is a bronze medalist at the Rio Olympics in the 110m hurdles –, the Martiniquaise has prepared with motivation for this competition that she loves.
As she celebrated her 21st birthday on January 9, she confides in this international meeting broadcast live overnight from Saturday to Sunday, from 2 a.m., on Paris Première.
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LE FIGARO. - What does the Miss Universe contest mean to you?
Floriane BASCOU.
- Miss Universe is a dream, a goal that I have set myself since my participation in Miss Martinique.
I have been watching this international competition since I was a little girl and it inspired me a lot.
For me, the young women who participated were role models because they assumed responsibility but also because they marched and could express their ideas in front of millions of viewers despite their young age.
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How did you prepare for this contest?
The Miss France society gave the Miss Martinique committee the opportunity to prepare me for Miss Universe.
A support association, called "En route vers l'univers" was formed in Martinique to help me in my efforts and accompany me in different areas.
I thus had the support of the Martinican stylist Sandra Piniatello who worked alongside Geneviève de Fontenay and a company manager, who thanks to her ceremonial dress shop, allowed me to find outfits to the height of Miss Universe.
Arnaud Sol Dourdin also gave me a make-up lesson and helped me with my shopping to prepare my outfits.
Finally, I worked on my mind with coaches but also on my English.
Did your brother, who is an athletics champion, give you any advice?
There are points in common with sport, in particular the mental preparation to face stress.
He accompanies me in this area and also for my physical preparation.
He motivates me, he gave me exercises to tone me up and advice on my diet.
“My mother, my father and my physiotherapist brother will be present but also my uncles and aunts and friends, a real small delegation!
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Will your family be there?
My mother, my father and my physiotherapist brother will be present but also my uncles and aunts and friends, a real small delegation!
Only my brother Dimitri will not be able to be there because we are in the middle of the sports season but he will follow my participation from a distance.
Have you spoken with former Miss who participated in Miss Universe?
I was able to chat with Clémence Botino who left last year.
If she couldn't live the whole adventure because of the Covid, she gave me tips for managing the looks.
I was also able to speak with Eva Colas, 4th runner-up of Miss Universe 2018. I hope that with all these tips I am ready.
I can't wait to live the moment, it's a once in a lifetime adventure.
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During the competition, the candidates must introduce themselves and answer questions, is this a moment that scares you?
It's an adventure I look forward to.
I am excited at the idea of participating so I have no particular apprehension.
I'm assuming that's my goal so I don't have to worry about what's going to happen.
On the contrary, I focus on my preparation to give the maximum of myself on the evening of the final.
The questions asked often concern current events or politics, how do you prepare for this?
It's part of the game. I try to get ahead by looking at the news.
The Miss Universe organization also asks questions about the experience of each and obviously, I know myself better than anyone so I don't apprehend.
“It is a source of pride for me to be, in the 21st century, a young Martiniquaise, a young black woman who represents all of France in New Orleans”.
What message do you want to convey?
The competition is taking place this year in New Orleans, a city that has many similarities with our country and even a common past.
I am happy to be able to be the link between these two territories.
It is a source of pride for me to be, in the 21st century, a young Martiniquaise, a young black woman who represents all of France in New Orleans to show that mentalities have evolved over the centuries.
What does your national costume represent?
I wanted to do something different.
It represents July 14, our national holiday, and, through the feathers in the colors of the French flag, the traditional fireworks display.
Its Caribbean style pays homage to my Martinican origins.
An Eiffel Tower is also present on my headdress, as a symbol.
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Why are you the one participating in Miss Universe and not Diane Leyre, Miss France in title?
In general, the reigning Miss France and her first runner-up participate in one of the international competitions.
As soon as I returned to Martinique after Miss France, I made arrangements to take English lessons with a view to possible participation and during interviews I made allusions to the two competitions, I did not expect more to one or the other.
Diane explained to the media that she had responsibilities to fulfill and that she did not have time to prepare as much as possible for this adventure.
Since she couldn't, the Miss France organization chose me to be France's representative at Miss Universe.
It must have been a pleasant surprise.
Participating in an international competition is a chance.
“Since I was little, I watched Miss Universe more than Miss World.
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Is Miss Universe the pageant that represents you more?
From a young age, I watched Miss Universe more than Miss World.
This competition attracts me a lot because of its American-style show side.
You have to have a stage presence and I think I can rise to the challenge.
I received the parade prize at Miss France, it gives me credibility in this contest.
What is your objective ?
It remains the same as since the start: winning the Miss Universe crown and making France and Martinique proud.
Three Martiniquaises competed at Miss Universe representing our island in the 1980s. Now that Martinique is considered a French territory, there is no longer a representative with the Martinique scarf but only with the France scarf.
I am therefore the first Miss Martinique to represent all of France.
As for Miss World, Martinique has not been represented since 2019 but a return could be possible this year.
If so, my participation could be considered.
For now, my finality is Miss Universe but all opportunities like this can be good to take.
What are your strengths?
My strength is to be a Frenchwoman with multiple cultures.
I represent France and Martinique which itself brings together different cultures: Indian, French, Chinese, African... I think it's important to have this diversity to be able to represent the universe.
