Frédéric Gilbert, president of the Société Miss France, criticized the contestants during an interview on «C à vous» on December 20, 2025, lamenting that their training on social media is not effective. Joined by the new Miss France 2026, Hinaupoko Devèze, he addressed recent controversies, including the dismissal of Miss Provence and Miss Aquitaine for insults. He justified these actions by highlighting the inconsistency between promoted values and actual behavior.
On December 20, 2025, Frédéric Gilbert, president of the Société Miss France, appeared on the show «C à vous» hosted by Mohamed Bouhafsi, alongside Hinaupoko Devèze, crowned Miss France 2026 on December 6 in Amiens. The light atmosphere, enlivened by comedian Booder, did not shy away from sensitive topics surrounding the controversies that marked this edition.
Gilbert first recalled a necessary reprimand during the preparation trip, where some contestants lacked respect and politeness. He then focused on the private video posted after the election, in which two non-selected contestants in the top 12 – Julie Zitouni (Miss Provence) and Aïnhoa Lahitete (Miss Aquitaine) – insulted their rivals, calling them «grosses putes». «Ça ne représentait pas du tout l’état d’esprit d’un concours de Miss. C’est ce qui est un peu contradictoire, parfois toutes ces candidates prônent la bienveillance et le fait de rassembler, et il y a une vidéo qui sort comme ça où c’est tout sauf fair-play», he stated.
The regional committees dismissed the two young women shortly after, a decision Gilbert defended: «Ne pas les destituer, ça aurait été encore pire parce que les gens n’auraient pas compris pourquoi tout d’un coup la Société Miss France et les comités régionaux tolèrent ce genre de sortie». He also condemned the cyberbullying they faced on social media, described as the «revers de la médaille», while regretting the limited impact of preparations. The Société Miss France organized a masterclass with Angélique Angarni-Filopon, Miss France 2025, who endured severe insults the previous year. Yet, «on a beau leur expliquer, leur dire, ça ne rentre pas», Gilbert lamented, highlighting a generational challenge with social media dangers.
Meanwhile, Julie Zitouni broke her silence the same day via an Instagram video, sharing behind-the-scenes moments to «refermer ce chapitre» with gratitude, without mentioning her former friend. Michèle Bernier, jury president, expressed on «50’inside» her discomfort with the contest's negative aspects, while valuing the participants' courage and the event's popularity.
