On December 14, 2024, the 95th annual Miss France election captivated viewers as the crowning of Miss France 2025 took place live from the Arena Futuroscope de Poitiers. The evening, hosted by Jean-Pierre Foucault, saw the emotional coronation of Angélique Angarni-Filopon, Miss Martinique, who made history as the oldest contestant at 34 years old.
"It's an honor to stand before you. When I won the Miss Martinique contest, I told the Martiniquais we would do it together. And we did it together! Thank you!" Angélique said tearfully during the ceremony, where she succeeded Eve Gilles, Miss France 2024.
The night was filled with anticipation, featuring 30 candidates who had undergone rigorous training and various competitions leading to this moment. Each finalist was selected through public voting interactions and jury assessments, ensuring audience engagement throughout the event.
This year’s theme, "Le bal des Miss," highlighted the beauty of dance, showcasing famous dance styles such as tango and country, melding traditional elegance with contemporary appeal. The ceremony emphasized performance as much as beauty, engaging the audience visually and emotionally.
The other finalists who shined during the gala included Sabah Aïb (Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais), Stella Vangioni (Miss Corsica), Moïra André (Miss Guadeloupe), and Lilou Emeline-Artuso (Miss Côte d’Azur). After intensive presentations and runway displays, the five finalists were celebrated for both their graceful poise and captivating stories.
"I want to be the ambassador for all your causes and actions for 2025," Angélique promised, reaching out to the wider community, reflecting her dedication to social causes which resonate deeply with her own experiences. Her personal connection to breast cancer awareness, because of her mother’s battle, underlined the significance of this platform for her.
The evening drew millions of viewers, showcasing the longstanding allure of Miss France, reminiscent of past shows where audiences engaged with the beauty pageant. The ratings reflect this historical draw, with 7.5 million tuning in for the previous year, and similar figures watched the years before. Viewership numbers confirm the event as not just entertainment but also as cultural touchstone.
Maëva Coucke, Miss France 2018, contributed to the contestants' training, emphasizing posture and ways to mitigate the infamous risks of falling during the event. "If I finished sixth at Miss Universe, it's because I fell, because I knew how to bounce back from this fall," she shared, demonstrating resilience as she showed the candidates how to recover gracefully from mishaps.
Former Miss France Sylvie Tellier attended the event which she previously directed for 17 years, bringing her daughter to witness the spectacle. "I want to salute Sylvie Tellier, who was my partner for 17 years, who is here tonight," Foucault said, spotlighting her contributions to the pageant's history.
With the coronation now complete, anticipation builds for the next installment of Miss France, as enthusiasts reflect on Angélique’s promising reign and look forward to 2026's contest. The Miss France election not only celebrates beauty but also resilience, ambition, and the power of community engagement, ensuring it remains culturally relevant.