“
I won the crown of crowns
,” exclaims Karen Duthoit back in France, full of enthusiasm.
The prize for the most beautiful carnival costume was won this year by a French woman from Estaires in the north of France.
"
These are unforgettable moments
," she recalls, still carried away by the magic of Venice.
“
I have fond memories in my head.
»
With a costume covered in mirrors and playing on volumes, Karen Duthoit managed to stand out from the 1,247 candidates in the running and win the hearts of the jury.
“
I came out of the usual framework
”, she tells Le
Figaro.
It took him three weeks to make his disguise, placed this year under the theme of astrology ("
original signs
").
“
I made my costume night and day
,” explains Karen Duthoit, before describing her costume: “
I represented the clock in Piazza San Marco in Venice.
The twelve astrological signs replace the hours and the blue color recalls the background of the dial.
»
Karen Duthoit's carnival costume on the theme of astrology, in front of the Clock Tower, in Saint Mark's Square, in Venice, Italy, February 20, 2023. Karen Duthoit
“Venice is beautiful, but you dazzled it”
The Northerner did not imagine winning the famous contest of the city of the Doges twice.
"
In 2020, I had already won the competition, without knowing the theme in advance 'game, love and madness'
", explains Karen Duthoit.
“
I had made a costume that represented my job and my passion: the funfair.
I was not registered for the competition, the jury spotted me in the crowd and I climbed on the podium.
she recalls, her head still full of memories.
“
I had been going there as a tourist for eleven years, I have always loved Venice and its costumes.
»
Game-themed carnival costume by Karen Duthoit in Venice, Italy in 2020. Karen Duthoit
Karen Duthoit explains that the terms of the competition have greatly evolved since its first participation in 2020: “
This year, the stage was much smaller, it did not cover all of Saint Mark's Square.
“The health crisis has also left its mark with the votes which have now gone online: “
Everyone can vote on the official website to designate the 80 best costumes, which are then submitted to the vote of the jury, on site, in Venice .
There is therefore only one winner for the whole carnival, unlike 2020, where the prize for the best costume was daily.
“
Venice is beautiful, but you dazzled it,
” said a French-style Italian when he won.
“
There is even a person from the Rio carnival who got in touch with me!
», Launches the fairground of the Lille region, who did not imagine such enthusiasm around the event.
“
It's a great pride for me to win and an honor to have been able to participate.
For the curious, the two carnival costumes are on display at the Museum of the History of Fairground Life from 1850 to Today, in Sainte-Catherine, near Arras.
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