Miss France is the trademark of an annual beauty pageant obtained in 2002 by the Dutch television production company Endemol. Endemol also holds the rights in France to send the winner for Miss World and Miss Universe pageants. Starting 2013 Miss France Hold the Franchise of Miss Earth. The pageant is held each year in December, and the winner is designated by the year that begins in the ensuing January.
For the first time in the history of beauty pageants, the finalists of the Miss France contest will be brought to Sri Lanka in November 2013. Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts are preparing to host the 33 finalists to a pre-pageant tour of Sri Lanka, flown courtesy of SriLankan Airlines. The tour will be a part of the pageant’s official agenda, following regional selections that will culminate in the Grand Finale of the Miss France Crowning Pageant, scheduled to be held in Dijon, France early December 2014.
“By associating with a pageant of such global repute, we are making the world aware of the diversity the country has to offer a traveller, where one is sure to be overwhelmed by the charms this exotic island can offer, ranging from the beaches, to wildlife and heritage topped with the warmest welcome one could expect in any part of the world.” Said SriLankan Airlines, Chief Marketing Officer, G. T. Jeyaseelan.
The tour for the Miss France finalists will include stays at the tastefully-appointed Cinnamon Lodge, Habarana and Cinnamon Bey, Beruwala resorts. At Cinnamon Lodge Habarana, being at the epicentre of the cultural triangle and wildlife parks, the contingent will experience rich cultural diversity and wildlife, whilst Cinnamon Bey, Beruwala will present to them a most relaxed holiday on the golden beaches of the coastal belt – giving them true indulgence to sun, sea and sand. It will be televised live through TF1 to millions of enthusiastic global viewers.
Accompanying the 33 finalists will be over 50 other key personnel of the Miss France competition together with the winner of Miss France 2012/2013, Marine Lorphelin” said Miss France Organization and Miss France 2002 CEO, Sylvie Tellier. “We are grateful to Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts for approaching us to make this tour a reality, and I consider it a privilege to have them host during our stay here.”
The winner of the pageant will return to Sri Lanka as a brand ambassador for Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts and represent the chain in several events both here and in France. “It is indeed a great honour to be the official hotel for this prestigious international event. Miss France 2014 will certainly put Sri Lanka in the global spotlight as a quality destination. Filming will highlight some of the island’s best locations and I am sure that our unique culture and warm hospitality will appeal to audiences around the world watching the pageant” comments Mr. Dileep Mudadeniya, Head of Brand Marketing and Vice President of Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts.
The pageant is contested by regional winners of local contests from Metropolitan France and its overseas territories. June 21 was the starting point for regional selections Miss France during which thousands of young women aged 18 to 25 years, will try to win their way to reach the final Miss France 2014. The method of choosing the winner has varied over the years, ordinarily with a jury of celebrities choosing a set of finalists. The winner in recent years was chosen by a weighting of the jury’s opinion and votes of television viewers of the pageant (who pay a fee for each vote). For the Miss France 2010 contest, the winner was chosen entirely by the votes of viewers for the first time.
To become Miss France, it is necessary to have a clean police record and not to have ever posed partially or completely naked. Doing so after winning will also results in loss of crown. The contestants also should have no visible tattoos or piercings (except earrings).
Photo: Miss France 2013