PEOPLE This Friday, one month before the coronation of Miss France 2023, journalists witnessed tense exchanges between the future ex-director general and the president of the Miss France Society
Sylvie Tellier and Alexia Laroche-Joubert at the Gala des Bonnes Fées at the Intercontinental Paris Le Grand hotel, in June 2022. — LAURENT VU/SIPA
Bitterness and acidity succeeded with sweet macaroons. The press conference for the Miss France 2023 competition was held in the Ladurée salons on the Champs-Elysées, this Friday afternoon. This elegant decor was not enough to hide the tensions between Alexia Laroche-Joubert, who arrived in recent months at the presidency of the Society; Miss France, and Sylvie Tellier who will officially and definitively give up her position as general manager after the election broadcast on December 17 on TF1.
“Let’s burst the abscess: are you angry?” a colleague. “I have a 9mm under the table,” Sylvie Tellier before ensuring that between them, everything is fine. “I made the choice to leave the organization. I am delighted that Alexia is returning to my duties. I will remain Miss France all my life,” continued the one who was crowned in 2021.
““Cindy Fabre is one of the Misses I don’t know”
A little later, she confided; to have “suffered” of being criticized by Geneviève de Fontenay: “She judged; a lot of things and I don’t want to do the same thing again.” She still called back. that she was opposed to that the regulations are changing, under the leadership of Alexia Laroche-Joubert, in order to allow married women and women with children to present their candidacy because she believes that “this does not’ is not compatible with the status of Miss.”
On her relationship with Cindy Fabre, new director of the competition since the end of August, Sylvie Tellier gave the impression that we had to read between the lines. “She was Miss France, she therefore has full legitimacy. to represent the brand, she said. She is one of the Misses I don’t know, I’ve never worked; with her. I will be at available if she has any questions but, at the moment, she doesn’t seem to have any, so that’s quite reassuring. It’s just that she’s in control and ç’s seems to be going very well.”
”You mean you’re not at all ; me ? !”
The tension rose a notch shortly after. Sylvie Tellier declared; that “The Misses don’ nobody”. Alexia Laroche-Joubert, then exclaimed “You mean that t’es not à; me ? !”, taking her arm, leaving her speechless. Small moment of hesitation. “Oh my sorry, I’m having a hard time,” to catch up with the one who wanted to joke.
A few moments later, when the ex-Miss France corrected her neighbor by telling her that it was appropriate, when it comes to trans people, to talk about “change of marital status” rather than “sex change”, it’s with a hint of condescension that Alexia Laroche-Joubert retorted; “Thank you Sylvie, it’s so nice of you to pick it up again.” Atmosphere.
“I can’t let you say ça”
The breaking point came after half an hour of press conference. A journalist greeted the way in which Sylvie Tellier had contributed; to modernize the election. Alexia Laroche-Joubert then cut it off: “Sylvie was not working on the show but on the competition.”
Reaction from the tit for tat and bewildered person: “I wasn’t working on the show? OK okay… I can’t let you say ça. I was the Executive Director of the Society, so I worked on the show. For seventeen years.”
“But you weren’t working on the production of the show,” the new president of the Company; Miss France.
Sylvie Tellier then turned to artistic producer Frédéric Gilbert. “We were all working together,” he said, taken aback.
Alexia Laroche-Joubert continues: “Excuse me if I offended you.” “Yes, you offended me. I have a lot of consideration but you also have to have consideration for all the work that has been done. done for seventeen years.” Close the ban. Two minutes later, the press conference ended in front of an audience of somewhat flabbergasted journalists.
A tattooed Miss, a first
This day has not been of any rest for Alexia Laroche-Joubert. In the morning, she spoke to the industrial tribunal of Bobigny because the association Dare feminism started in October 2021 legal proceedings, from the angle of labor law, against the election of Miss France, which she considers “sexist”. The decision will be made on January 6.
“It’s good that it happened after the show. Last year, [the controversy] had taken up a lot of space and as I did not agree at all with what was being reproached, I found that çit polluted  ;”, moved on” the President of the Company; Miss France during the press conference.
Nevertheless, the rules of the competition have changed. for this edition. The organization no longer imposes an age limit to participate (until then, you had to be 25 years old maximum) and is open to married women and mothers. Tattoos are also no longer a reason for eviction, nor are naked photos if they are intended for public viewing. a good cause (breast cancer awareness, for example). Among the thirty women vying for the title of Miss France 2023, at least three would not have been able to participate under the aegis of the previous rules: Miss Calédonie and Miss Picardie are 26 years old and Miss Languedoc has a tattoo on her wrist which she can leave visible if she wishes. We do not know if Sylvie Tellier would have been I agree with ça.