If you traced the paths of Anggun, Patrick Fiori and Jean Paul Gaultier, they would intersect at Eurovision. Patrick represented France back in 1993 and Anggun took a turn on stage in 2012. As for Jean Paul, he designed Dana International’s iconic costume back in 1998 and Anggun’s in 2012. He also helped turn Eurovision 2014 winner Conchita Wurst into a fashion icon: she accompanied him to the Life Ball in 2014 and later closed his haute couture show in Paris.
Tonight the three Eurovisionistas met at another event — the Miss France 2016 pageant in Zénith de Lille. All three appeared on the jury, with Jean Paul serving as its chair. There were only six judges in total, so the ESC influence was immense.
#MissFranceByAnggun – @Anggun_Cipta dans le jury de @MissFrance avec @JPGaultier | @Anggunesia pic.twitter.com/2yNUtCU53B
— Anggun Archive (@AnggunArchive) December 19, 2015
At times there was a risk that the gorgeous Anggun would upstage all the ladies on stage. BuzzFeed France picked up on that with this amusing Tweet, calling the pageant in favour of the Indonesian-born singer.
Fin du game. On vote Anggun. #MissFrance2016 pic.twitter.com/UdbEwWSgmm
— BuzzFeed France (@BuzzFeedFrance) December 19, 2015
After a night filled with beauty and bikini and plenty of body, the judges named Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais Iris Mittenaere as their queen. She’s a 22-year-old dental student. We’re assuming she may have a fondess for Eurovision now, too.
Félicitations à Iris Mittenaere élue #missnordpasdecalais2015 pour #MissFrance2016 ! pic.twitter.com/WcDdnyMUjV
— Miss France (@MissFrance) September 27, 2015
Bonus: Kendji Girac, the winner of the third season of The Voice: La plus belle voix, was one of the other judges on the panel. He is a favourite of French Eurofans to sing at the contest, though he has come out to say he’s not interested at the moment. He also won the recent OGAE Song Contest 2015 with his song “Andalouse”.
Meanwhile, as preparations for the Miss Universe pageant take place in Las Vegas, the world is still abuzz over Miss Austria’s national costume which honoured Conchita Wurst. Who knew pageants and Eurovision could collide so frequently in one weekend…
And on the other Eurovision/French TV news, Loïc Nottet will be on the final of French Dancing with the Stars on Wednesday !
Anggun should come back in the contest. She is still being talked about by her Eurovision fans even in here and people would definitely rejoice to her return.
If Jean Paul Gaultier entered as a novelty act, I think it would be so funny. France could get Top 10 and maybe win Eurovision’s Next Top Model 🙂