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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.

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

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

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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.’

Photographer Adrian Steirn’s film, 21 Icons South Africa, was released in the summer, and featured footage with Nelson Mandela, who passed away Thursday night South African time, aged 95.
   Mandela was a symbol of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid, and was incarcerated by the country’s government for his active opposition to the racist, anti-democratic policy.
   After spending 27 years in jail at Victor Verster Prison on Robben Island, Mandela was released in February 1990 by then-president F. W. de Klerk, who had decided to bring about the end of apartheid.
   Upon his release, Mandela expressed no bitterness toward the apartheid régime and, instead, urged forgiveness toward it.
   Mandela became the country’s first democratically elected president in 1994, after winning the Nobel Peace Prize the previous year with de Klerk, and regarded as the father of the modern nation by some.
   During his imprisonment, he became a symbol for equality and freedom-fighting around the world.
   In his later years, Mandela suffered from an ongoing lung complaint that had seen him hospitalized on many occasions.
   Steirn says he became fascinated by the recent history of South Africa and its struggles, and had hoped he would get to shoot Mandela. He was originally told that that would be impossible, but his persistence led to the former president sitting for the portrait. The final shot is of Mandela looking into a mirror.
   The footage shown below shows the making of the image, and features interviews with George Bizos, Ahmed Kathrada, the Most Rev Archbishop Desmond Tutu and de Klerk.

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.

’Stangers—diehard fans of the Ford Mustang—will have already seen it due to leaks of the official photographs half a day ago. Lucire ran the leaked photos on our Facebook page. But now, we can officially talk about the unveiling, in six cities around the world—New York, Dearborn, Michigan, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Sydney and Barcelona—of the 2015 Mustang, codenamed S550, which commemorates the model line’s 50th anniversary.
   Executive chairman Bill Ford was present at the Barcelona event, in front of an audience of 2,500 journalists, dealers and Ford employees.
   While the Mustang has officially been on sale in Europe and other markets before since the original model was released in New York on April 17, 1964, the 2015 model is the first which will be sold as a “world car”, as part of Ford’s core range.
   Ford notes that the Mustang is its most iconic range, and that it is the world’s most-liked vehicle on Facebook. Nine million have been built since the original’s launch.
   Stephen Odell, executive vice-president for Ford in Europe, Middle East and Africa, said in a release, ‘The Mustang’s formidable reputation for performance and its iconic status as a symbol of freedom and optimism precedes it even in those parts of the world where the car has never been sold. The new Mustang epitomizes Ford’s aggressive product acceleration; technologically advanced and forward-looking, but without forgetting the heritage that has inspired Ford customers for generations.’
   The new model certainly lives up to the promise. It has the classic Mustang proportions and blends them with Ford’s present design language.
   The design language has been seen on other global products such as the facelifted B299 Ford Fiesta and the CD391 Ford Fusion, which will be sold in Europe and other markets as the Ford Mondeo. It is an evolution of some of Ford’s earlier design principles.
   The grille opening apes that of the Fiesta and Fusion, but appears in a more exaggerated form, with the Mustang horse placed in the centre, as with the original, the Mustang II, and the models dating from the 1994.
   There are also shades of the ItalDesign Ford Mustang concept of 2006, which brought some Italianate touches, such as a tapering cabin.
   The rear lights also reflect the classic Mustang ideas, with the tri-bar design that also harks back to the original.
   Ford has also injected the rear-wheel-drive Mustang with the latest technologies, equipping the pony car for the 2010s and beyond.
   Technologies include Ford’s Sync with voice control and eight-inch touchscreen (in Europe), and drivers can adjust between driving modes.
   The convertible has an insulated cloth top, which has a sleek profile when folded, according to Ford.
   Moray Callum, Ford’s executive director of design for the Americas, said, ‘You only get one chance to make a first impression and when you see this car, you immediately see a Mustang strong and true.’
   Inside, the Mustang has an aviation-inspired cockpit, designed for the driver, and there is more space, thanks to a wider cabin and an all-new rear suspension. The cockpit again blends modern and classic: the two large dials hark back to the original, but the look is more geometric and structured.
   The boot can now accommodate two golf bags, thanks to the new platform.
   The suspension brings Mustang bang up to date. The front has double ball-joint Macpherson struts, while the rear gets rid of its agricultural live rear axle in front of an integral-link independent suspension. The Mustang promises to be a far better drive than the models of old, suiting worldwide markets. Ford’s stability control includes torque vectoring.
   Engines are the classic five-litre V8 (with 426 PS and 529 Nm of torque) and a new EcoBoost 2·3-litre four delivering 309 PS and 407 Nm. The automatic model has steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles.—Jack Yan, Publisher

Rindoff Petroff/Castel

Cartier: le style et l’histoire opens on December 4, showcasing the renowned brand in a retrospective organized by the Réunion des Musées Nationaux–Grand Palais.
   The Cartier Collection has been shown in 25 exhibitions worldwide since 1983, including the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the British Museum, Lisboa’s Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, and Beijing’s Palace Museum.
   The VIP private opening on Monday at le Grand Palais was attended by many of the names that Cartier has touched. Guests included HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Archduchess Eleonore von Habsburg and her daughter Princess Francesca von Habsburg, Kristin Scott Thomas, Joely Richardson, Monica Bellucci, Tomo Kurata, Lea Weller, Ora Ito and Emilie Marant, Patricia d’Arenberg, John and Laviana Elkan, Hubert de Givenchy, V. V. Brown, Adelaide de Clermont Tonnerre, Guillaume Cerutti and his wife Marjorie, Henri de la Croix de Castries, and Maharaja Tikka de Kapurthala.
   The exhibition runs till February 16 at the Grand Palais, Paris, and features 600 creations, including high jewellery pieces, mystery clocks, watches and precious objects. Some will be shown alongside private loans, displayed for the first time. Archive material and documentation accompany the exhibition.

Rindoff Petroff/Castel

Pascal le Segretain

Above President of Réunion des Musées Nationaux, Jean-Paul Cluzel, and president of Cartier, Stanislas de Quercize. Kristin Scott Thomas and Joely Richardson. L’Archiduchess Eleonore von Habsburg and daughter Princess Francesca von Habsburg. Monica Bellucci and HSH Prince Albert II. Tomo Kurata and Lea Weller. Ora Ito and Emilie Marant. Patricia d’Arenberg. Archduchess Eleonore von Habsburg, Princess Francesca von Habsburg and John and Laviana Elkan. HSH Prince Albert II de Monaco, Archduchess Eleonore von Habsburg and her daughter Princess Francesca von Habsburg. Hubert de Givenchy. V. V. Brown. Adelaide de Clermont Tonnerre. Guillaume Cerutti, CEO of Sotheby’s France and his wife Marjorie. Henri de La Croix de Castries, 5th Comte de Castries, and his wife. Maharaja Tikka de Kapurthala and guest.

Rindoff Petroff/Castel