Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Risqué Pics Won't Dethrone Miss France

Pageant winner barred from international competition under deal

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 28, 2007 3:25 PM CST
Email

(Newser) – Miss France will keep her crown despite the publication of racy pictures featuring the 22-year-old student, AFP reports. Photographs of Valerie Begue licking yogurt off a wall and straddling a cross in a bikini had Genevieve de Fontenay, the pageant's sharp-tongued patron, threatening to strip Begue of her title; Begue won't be allowed to compete internationally as Miss France.

“I wouldn’t want to be seen touring the provinces with a girl like that,” de Fontenay told a French radio station. But, after an outburst of support on Begue's Indian Ocean island home of Reunion, de Fontenay agreed to leave it at that. "I am happy to keep my title and … thank all those who helped me," Begue said.

Miss France 2008 Valerie Begue, left, of the Reunion islands, whose crown has been threatened since publication of suggestive photographs in a magazine, holds a press conference in Paris, Friday Dec. 28, 2007 with Genevieve de Fontenay president of Committee Miss France, right. Fontenay agreed for the 2008 winner to...
Miss France 2008 Valerie Begue, left, of the Reunion islands, whose crown has been threatened since publication of suggestive photographs in a magazine, holds a press conference in Paris, Friday Dec....   (Associated Press)
Valerie Begue of Reunion is crowned Miss France 2008 in Dunkerque, northern France Saturday Dec. 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
Valerie Begue of Reunion is crowned Miss France 2008 in Dunkerque, northern France Saturday Dec. 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)   (Associated Press)
Miss France 2008 Valerie Begue, of the Reunion islands, whose crown has been threatened since publication of suggestive photographs in a magazine, holds a press conference in Paris, Friday Dec. 28, 2007. Genevieve de Fontenay president of Committee Miss France agreed for the 2008 winner to keep her crown under...
Miss France 2008 Valerie Begue, of the Reunion islands, whose crown has been threatened since publication of suggestive photographs in a magazine, holds a press conference in Paris, Friday Dec. 28, 2007....   (Associated Press)
Miss France 2008 Valerie Begue, right, of the Reunion islands, whose crown has been threatened since publication of suggestive photographs in a magazine, arrives for a press conference, followed by Sylvie Tellier Miss France 2002, center, and Genevieve de Fontenay president of Committee Miss France in Paris, Friday Dec. 28,...
Miss France 2008 Valerie Begue, right, of the Reunion islands, whose crown has been threatened since publication of suggestive photographs in a magazine, arrives for a press conference, followed by Sylvie...   (Associated Press)
Valerie Begue of Reunion is crowned Miss France 2008 in Dunkerque, northern France Saturday Dec. 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
Valerie Begue of Reunion is crowned Miss France 2008 in Dunkerque, northern France Saturday Dec. 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)   (Associated Press)
Genevieve de Fontenay president of Committee Miss France holds a press conference about Miss France 2008 Valerie Begue, of the Reunion islands, whose crown has been threatened since publication of suggestive photographs in a magazine, during a press conference in Paris, Friday Dec. 28, 2007. Fontenay agreed for the 2008...
Genevieve de Fontenay president of Committee Miss France holds a press conference about Miss France 2008 Valerie Begue, of the Reunion islands, whose crown has been threatened since publication of suggestive...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Judge for yourself: Did Miss France go too far?
RussiaToday

Begue's native island comes to her rescue
Times (UK)

 
France • beauty pageant • Indian Ocean • Miss France • Valerie Begue • Reunion • Genevieve de Fontenay

More Newser Stories

Company Fined for Nude Bruni Handbags
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne