TF1

Miss Orléanais, Flora Coquerel, has been crowned Miss France 2014, during the live telecast Saturday night and into the small hours of Sunday morning on French network TF1.
   The 19-year-old, nearly six foot tall, works in international trade, and in her spare time, practises dancing and plays badminton. Her hobbies include film, fashion and travel, according to her biography.
   Miss Tahiti, Mehiata Riaria, was runner-up, with Miss Provence, Laëtizia Penmellen, Miss Côte d’Azur, Aurianne Sinacola, and Miss Guadeloupe, Chloé Deher, in the remaining places.
   The show took place at the Zénith in Dijon, in the Bourgogne region in France. Prior to the show, French media noted that, unlike the previous year, none of the 33 contestants had emerged as an early favourite.
   The final twelve were Miss Languedoc, Miss Guadeloupe, Miss Orléanais, Miss Roussillon, Miss Tahiti, Miss Alsace, Miss Bourgogne, Miss Côte d’Azur, Miss Franche-Comté, Miss Auvergne, Miss Réunion, and Miss Provence. They were then pared down to the top five: Miss Tahiti, Miss Orléanais, Miss Côte d’Azur, Miss Provence and Miss Guadeloupe.
   The live telecast featured the contestants in various tableaux with a Disney-esque and fairy-tale theme. Sets themed on Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella (to the soundtrack of La Boum, the early Sophie Marceau film), Anastasia, The Little Mermaid (for the swimwear, by Aurélie Alezeraa) and Little Red Riding Hood took place. There was a nod to current music: the 1001 Nights tableau was performed to Beyoncé’s ‘All the Single Ladies’.
   A brief tribute to Nelson Mandela was given by the mayor of Dijon, François Rebsamen.
   Despite not having a “battle of the pageants” this year after a settlement with former Miss France director Geneviève de Fontenay, the French public remained very interested in the outcome, especially as Miss France 2013, Marine Lorphelin, placed runner-up at Miss World.
   Jean-Pierre Foucault hosted the lengthy telecast, watched by around 40 per cent of the television audience on the TF1 network.
   The jury consisted of Québecois singer Garou (in the chair), Sylvie Vartan, Elodie Frégé, Vincent Niclo, Titoff, TV presenter Jean-Pierre Pernaut and his partner, Nathalie Marquay (Miss France 1987). The French public also had a say on who would succeed Marine Lorphelin through SMS voting, which extended to audiences in Tahiti and New Caledonia.

TF1

Above Miss Orléanais, Flora Coquerel, after her crowning as Miss France 2014.

TF1

Above The contestants emerge for the first set during the telecast.

TF1

Above Miss France 2013 Marine Lorphelin and MC Jean-Pierre Foucault.

Still capturing plenty of attention, especially for her promotion of worthy social causes, Lady Gaga headed to Annabel’s in London last night in association with Belvedere Vodka and Product Red.
   Gaga performed ‘Artpop’, ‘Dope’ and ‘Do What U Want’ from her new album Artpop, which was released last month, as well as her classic ‘Poker Face’, at a private concert at Annabel’s.
   LVMH, meanwhile, launched its Belvedere Red Special Edition bottle. Proceeds from the sale of the limited-edition vodka bottles will go to the Global Fund to fight HIV–Aids in Africa.
   Celebrity guests included Adele, Sting and Trudie Styler, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Emma Watson, Bar Refaeli, Douglas Booth, Eddie Redmayne, Jessie J, Chelsea Davy, Boris Becker, Bryan Ferry, Hayley Atwell, Michael McIntyre, Emile Sande, Tinie Tempah, Christopher Kane, Natalie Massenet, Arizona Muse, Richard E. Grant, Philip Treacy, Suki Waterhouse, Sally Greene, Nicky Haslam, Irina Ambromavich, James Blunt and Sofia Wellesley.
   Gaga had performed at the same venue in 2011 to launch her famed Born This Way album.
   Charli XCX followed on with a special DJ set into the small hours of the morning.
   Gaga notes, ‘I think it is very important to join the fight against Aids and HIV and think it is wonderful that Belvedere and Annabel’s are supporting and had this event this evening. The more we can educate people the more we control the problem. I think it is really wonderful they are involved and think all major corporations should join the fight.’

Being the first week of December, I feel it necessary to include something at least a little festive in this week’s Instagram round-up. Kiwi-singing-sensation Lorde posted a photo playing a game of giant Jenga in Portland. Spotted in the background is a rather large Christmas tree with what looks like a whole pile of pressies, lucky Lorde! In other New Zealand-related Christmas news, Karen Walker has posted a shot of her current filigree embossed marigold leather purses which can be found in her weekly gift edits at karenwalker.com. The last local snapshot this week is from Zambesi’s Wellington manager, Nicola Provost. Nicola celebrates Zambesi’s new shoot done by Marissa Findlay for Black magazine online.
   This week I also feel it necessary to pay tribute to actor Paul Walker who passed away suddenly at only 40-years-old. RIP Paul and best wishes to his family from the Lucire team.
   The 2013 British Fashion Awards took place this week with Brit it-model Edie Campbell coming out on top as model of the year. Here she is shown in an Instagram re-post where she looks stunning of the cover of Deutsch Vogue. On a side note, thanking her pony in her acceptance speech is a first, perhaps she’s just that posh. Another major winner on the night being famed boy-band, One Direction’s Harry Styles. Harry took out the Vodafone British Style award. Here he is shown in a playful shot wearing a blonde wig and a backwards-cap alongside actress Sienna Miller.
   Once again, I couldn’t resist including a Victoria’s Secret shot. This week, it features many of the stunning angels awaiting instructions backstage. This image was found off Victoria’s Secret newbie and model fresh-face of spring 2014 Devon Windsor’s Instagram. Be sure to check her out! Last and certainly not least, Lana Del Rey’s short film Tropico was released this week on Vevo. This reposted shot of Lana is exquisite, as is Tropico, so don’t hesitate to give it a watch. Tropico is conveniently linked on our Lucire news page. And that’s a wrap for this week!—Anna Deans

Miss France

Above The 33 contestants for Miss France 2014 in swimwear.

Without an active guerre de Miss being played out in front of the French media, the proceedings seem a bit quieter for Miss France 2014.
   Now that Miss France and its former director, Geneviève de Fontenay, have settled their legal dispute, with de Fontenay’s rival pageant, Miss Prestige National, taking place in January, French media have focused more on the smaller things. In the lead-up to the Miss France final on December 7 in Dijon, they have reported that its current CEO, Sylvie Tellier, has said that it was highly unlikely de Fontenay would ever be back.
   Meanwhile, Miss France host, Jean-Pierre Foucault, made a remark about the host city that was instantly slammed on the social networks—after which he had to apologize.
   Foucault had said that he had not planned to sleep in Dijon because he did not want to find himself ‘waking up in Dijon’.
   The only thing that seems to have been controversial was the involvement of the Miss France jury chairman, veteran actor Alain Delon, in right-wing political activity. Delon was replaced by Québecois singer Garou.
   There is some speculation over the reigning Miss France, Marine Lorphelin, and what she might do after her reign ends on the 7th.
   A medical student, Lorphelin may return to university, though her predecessors tended to wind up on TV shows, including Sophie Thalmann, Malika Ménard et Laury Thilleman, appearing on the likes of Splash and Danse avec les stars (the French version of Strictly Come Dancing). French magazine Closer notes that one of the few exceptions is Tellier herself, who won the pageant in 2002.

Lana Del Rey’s much-anticipated 30-minute film, Tropico, was released on Vevo today.
   The singer, playing a modern-day Eve, stars alongside model Shaun Ross.
   The original preview in Lucire detailed a three-part story of sin and redemption. The three parts take place in four scenes: the Garden of Eden, the stripper club, the robbery, and the farewell.
   The tracks from Del Rey’s Born to Die—the Paradise Edition are ‘Body Electric’, ‘Gods and Monsters’ and ‘Bel Air’, and the film gives greater context to the songs.
   She pays homage to Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, who appear alongside John Wayne and Jesus Christ in the film, which was directed by Anthony Mandler. Mandler previously directed her videos for ‘National Anthem’ and ‘Ride’.
   The film is available for streaming on Vevo apps and Vevo.com exclusively.
   At the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood for the Tropico première, Del Rey also announced the title of her new album as Ultraviolence, but gave no details on release date or tracks.

Mike Marsland

Top Harry Styles, winner of the British Style Award this year. Above The two Christophers who took the top awards: Christopher Bailey (left) and Christopher Kane (right).

Christopher Kane won the coveted prize of womenswear designer of the year, and Christopher Bailey, MBE, for menswear (for Burberry) at this year’s British Fashion Awards at the London Coliseum, while Miuccia Prada won the first International Designer of the Year prize.
   Kane was presented his award by Donatella Versace—he had designed for Versus for several years alongside his own label.
   Burberry was named Designer Brand of the Year, in a particularly good night at the awards.
   Nicholas Kirkwood was named the accessory designer of the year.
   As announced earlier, both Kate Moss and Suzy Menkes won special recognition awards, for their 25 years in modelling and journalism respectively. Moss was presented her award by Marc Jacobs.
   I-D magazine founders Terry and Tricia Jones received the Outstanding Achievement Award. Terry Jones was a former British Vogue art director, and founded I-D in 1980 with Tricia. It began life as a 40 pp. hand-stapled publication.
   Harry Styles won the Vodafone British Style Award, and was presented his prize by Alexa Chung, who had won three times in previous years.
   The emerging designer winners were Simone Rocha (for womenswear), Agi & Sam (for menswear), and Sophia Webster (for accessories). J. W. Anderson was the New Establishment award winner, for ‘taking the industry by storm’.
   Lady Amanda Harlech was recognized for her creativity and influence, and won the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator.
   Edie Campbell was named model of the year, while Erdem took home the red carpet award for raising its profile in the global media.
   Celebrities and designers attending included Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Sienna Miller, Tinie Tempah, Amber and Yasmin Le Bon, Daisy Lowe, Pixie Geldof, Rita Ora, Laura Bailey, Suki Waterhouse, Arizona Muse, Clémence Poésy, Caroline Issa, Erdem Moralioglu, Roksanda Ilincić, Dermot O’Leary, Emmanuelle Seigner, Mary Katrantzou, Gwyneth Paltrow, Henry Holland, and Stephen Jones, OBE.

Red carpet interviews and photos (scroll down for awards)

Nick Grimshaw, Kate Moss and Harry Styles on the red carpet

Sienna Miller on the red carpet

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley on the red carpet

Alexa Chung and Erdem

Red carpet highlights

Mike Marsland

Harry Styles

Christopher Kane

Christopher Bailey, MBE for Burberry

Kate Moss

Misery Bear’s new Kate Moss video

Lady Amanda Harlech

Suzy Menkes, OBE

Miuccia Prada

J. W. Anderson

Agi & Sam

Sophia Webster

Erdem

Edie Campbell

Nicholas Kirkwood

Burberry

Terry and Tricia Jones

The winners’ circle












Mike Marsland

Highlights

After Alain Delon quit as the honorary chairman of the Miss France jury over a falling-out surrounding his right-wing political activity, there was a question mark over his successor. Metro has revealed that singer Garou will take Delon’s place as Miss France leads up to its final on December 7 at the Zénith in Dijon.
   Garou, a Québecois singer, is already well known to French TV audiences, being one of the judges on the French version of The Voice, on TF1, the same channel as Miss France.
   He will join singers Sylvie Vartan, Elodie Frégé (Star Academy) and Vincent Niclo, comedian Titoff, 13 heures presenter Jean-Pierre Pernaut and his partner, Nathalie Marquay (Miss France 1987), who, along with the French public, will decide on the successor to Marine Lorphelin, Miss France 2013.
   The final will be MCed by Jean-Pierre Foucault. The very lengthy telecast sees the candidates in various tableaux, this time with a Disney-esque and fairy-tale theme. Sets themed on Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and Snow White are planned for the final.

This week’s Instagram pics include two of Lucire’s own, publisher Jack Yan and fashion editor Sopheak Seng. Sopheak shows his excitement for seeing his fabulous styling on a banner for the local Wellington Cup Carnival, while Jack is with the designer of Mardle, Shiana Weir, at an event hosted by her label and TwoWorlds, Design Cartel, Desiree, and Nevada Brown.
   In other Kiwi news, X-Factor runner-up Benny Tipene promotes his new single coming out on December 6: in a very attractive manner I might add. Meanwhile Lorde and David Little attend the New Zealand Music Awards both wearing New Zealand’s own, Zambesi.
   British pop-sensation, Rita Ora, celebrates her 23rd birthday in style with a truly scrumptious-looking cake. Over in LA, fashion-blogging superstar Rumi Neely is seen in not one, but two Australian labels. She wears the Vampire Skirt by Friend of Mine and Light Ceramic top by Bec & Bridge—doesn’t she look fabulous?
   Current it-girl Jennifer Lawrence, fondly known here at the office as J-Law, promotes her massive new blockbuster and the second in the terrific Hunger Games series, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Now showing at cinemas, it’s a definite must-see. Last but not least, Doutzen Kroes posts a drool-worthy shot of herself in sexy Christmas themed lingerie: included purely due to its extreme hotness.—Anna Deans