Miss France winner speaks out on right to personal identity after facing backlash

Miss France winner has taken a bold stand against societal expectations by defending her short hairstyle.

On Saturday, the title of Miss France 2024 was awarded to 20-year-old Eve Gilles, making her the apparent pioneer as the first contestant to secure the crown with a pixie cut.

Following the announcement of her triumph, Gilles, a resident of Nord-pas-de-Calais in northern France, shared a statement regarding her distinctive appearance.

According to U.K. newspaper The Independent, she said, “We’re used to seeing beautiful Misses with long hair, but I chose an androgynous look with short hair,”

“No one should dictate who you are,” Gilles continued. “Every woman is different, we’re all unique.”

The recently crowned Miss France donned a sparkling gold ball gown with an off-the-shoulder design during the competition.

Regarding the controversy surrounding her appearance, a representative from Miss Universe released 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 representative also emphasized that during the recent Miss Universe pageant, where Miss Nicaragua emerged victorious, a diverse array of hairstyles was showcased by the participants.

Despite facing criticism for her appearance, Gilles received a substantial amount of positive online backing.

French political figure Sandrine Rousseau posted on X, “So, in France, in 2023, we measure the progress of respect for women by the length of their hair?”

Karima Delli, a fellow politician and European Parliament member expressed admiration for Gilles by describing her as "superb" and commending her intelligence for embracing diversity, particularly evident in her choice of hairstyle.