Miss France election sparks beauty standards debate

Twenty-year-old Eve Gilles was crowned Miss France on December 16, but it wasn't just her victory that dominated the headlines; it was also her short hair.

Critics expressed their discontent online, arguing that a slender, androgynous-looking woman claiming the title as France's most beautiful woman sparked controversy. Some decried it as an instance of diversity taken to extremes, while others framed it as a victory for what they perceived as excessive wokeness. 

Most importantly, it raised the question of beauty and how much so-called beauty standards still exert pressures on women and control their attitude towards themselves.

Iman, a young Egyptian mother of two girls, voiced to Jusoor Post her disappointment with societal pressure on young girls and their parents regarding their daughters' appearance, saying, “When I had my first daughter, her hair was very short and didn’t grow fast. At the age of 4, her hair had grown only two inches. I always received comments regarding her hair. Some called her ‘Subianah’, meaning little girl with a boy’s appearance. This was a huge pressure on both of us, especially when she was bullied by her mates in school, where I cannot protect her.”

Rachael Gibson of the Hair Historian Instagram account stated to Daze Digital, “Long hair for women is generally considered symbolic of femininity, health, and fertility, which, in turn, led to it becoming a standardized beauty ideal,” which is why Gilles wasn’t the public's first choice in the French national beauty pageant, and they instead chose Miss French Guiana with her long hair.

Some believe the election of a slim, short-haired girl conveys a message for every woman to embrace her natural beauty and exercise free choice, regardless of societal pressures. Gilles declared after her coronation, “We're used to seeing beautiful Misses with long hair, but I chose an androgynous look with short hair.”

“Every woman is different, we're all unique,” she added, confirming that no one should dictate to women who they are. 

Youmna, a 19-year-old girl, expressed to Jusoor Post her satisfaction with the selection of Miss France even though the public vote did not favor Gilles, who may not conform to traditional beauty standards. “I'm really happy with this election despite the public vote not being in favor of Gilles. This might help in seeing beauty in different shapes and valuing our choices as girls,” she said.

According to Youmna, social media, Instagram models, and the cosmetics industry contribute to shaping unrealistic beauty standards, placing additional pressure on women to meet these criteria. “Unconsciously, we pursue their criteria. Otherwise, we feel less pretty. These standards make many people my age unsatisfied with their looks, less confident, and more unhappy,” she explained.

Despite the prevalent notion that people should prioritize what's on the inside, the reality often deviates from this ideal. Egyptian psychiatrist Mahmoud Bakr told Jusoor Post, “Clinics are full of young girls who suffer from depression, disappointment and anxiety concerning their beauty. In many cases, the suffering of these girls leads them to self-harm and sometimes to suicide.”

Bakr confirmed that encouraging women to embrace their unique beauty can help change the situation, adding, “Life is meant to be lived with ease, reserving space for the genuine challenge of developing one's character and becoming a good person.”