Miss France 2024, Eve Gilles.Photo:ARNAUD FINISTRE/AFP via Getty Images
ARNAUD FINISTRE/AFP via Getty Images
For what is thought to be the first time in the 100-year history of the competition, the winner of the Miss France pageant has short hair.
On Saturday, 20-year-old Eve Gilles wascrownedMiss France 2024 and she is believed to be the first contestant to win the competition with a pixie cut.
After her victory was announced, Gilles, who hails from Nord-pas-de-Calais in northern France, made a statement about her look.
“We’re used to seeing beautiful Misses with long hair, but I chose an androgynous look with short hair,” she said, as per U.K. newspaperThe Independent.
“No one should dictate who you are,” Gilles continued. “Every woman is different, we’re all unique.”
The new Miss France wore a shimmering gold off-the-shoulder ball gown at the competition.
In reference to the furor surrounding her look, a spokesperson for Miss Universe issued a statement to PEOPLE.
“There is no one way to be Miss Universe or Miss France, and we embrace every look that comes across our stage. We represent the times, and being your confident unique self is the one thing we see being reflected in all of our winners," they said.
The spokesperson also pointed out that at this year’sMiss Universepageant — which sawMiss Nicaragua take the title— there were a variety of hairstyles on display amongst the contestants.
Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais Eve Gilles.ARNAUD FINISTRE/AFP via Getty Images
“We saw personal styles and hair of all types - and we love it! Short, long, curly,” the statement continued, adding that the new Miss Universe, Sheynnis Palacios, “has a shorter cut.”
Eve Gilles is crowned Miss France 2024.ARNAUD FINISTRE/AFP via Getty Images
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While Gilles faced some backlash over her look, there was also a flood of online support.
Fellow politician Karima Delli — who is also a member of the European Parliament — meanwhile shared apostcalling Gilles “superb” and “intelligent for embracing her diversity” with her haircut.
source: people.com
