Saint-Martin during Miss pageant season

“The contestants’ trip is one of the first highlights of the Miss France adventure every year. We are delighted to be hosting it, for the first time, in Saint Martin,” said Frédéric Gilbert, president of the Miss France Society, in a statement.
Following last year’s trip to Martinique, the 31 regional Miss France titleholders will therefore be setting sail for the Friendly Island in a few weeks’ time, accompanied by Hinaupoko Devèze, Miss France 2026. Attending the IFTM Top Resa trade fair in Paris this week, she made no secret of her enthusiasm at the prospect of travelling to an island she has never visited before and introducing it to the regional contestants.
A trip to paradise that comes at just the right time, a few days after the launch of the Tourist Board’s new campaign,
“It’s a Feeling”. This time, the concept will have a very practical application: for a few days, Saint Martin will be in the spotlight. But this trip will also be a crucial milestone for Naïla Parotte, Miss Saint-Martin/Saint-Barthélemy, who will be on home turf.

A media sensation

As with all other trips, the Miss France Committee is working in partnership with the Tourist Boards of the host regions to organise the trip. The Saint-Martin Tourist Office team officially announced the news at their stand at the IFTM Top Resa… all that remains now is for them to organise the itinerary for the visit and highlight the region’s attractions. As Valérie Damaseau, Chair of the Tourist Office, emphasised, this is a unique opportunity to promote Saint-Martin to millions of French people.
Because behind the 31 contestants, it is the entire Miss France organisation that will be arriving in Saint-Martin. “The integration trip involves 31 Miss France contestants, of course, but also the support teams and the national media. In total, around 80 people will be arriving on the territory,” emphasises Catherine Vermot de Boisrolin, Chair and Regional Delegate of the Miss Saint-Martin/Saint-Barthélemy Committee.
The significance of the event therefore extends far beyond the few days of the stay. “Even though the territory is small, we need to show that it has a wider reach,” she insists. This trip also represents a unique opportunity to showcase Naïla Parotte, crowned Miss Saint-Martin/Saint-Barthélemy on 1 August and a contender for the national crown. “We need to rally the local community to support their Miss during this trip. We need to prove that she is truly ‘Miss’ in her own right. The enthusiasm of the local community plays a huge part, as we can see in Tahiti,” explains Catherine Vermot de Boisrolin. For although the final will not take place until December, the Top 12 is decided well before the televised event, based on the candidates’ hard work, attitude and commitment throughout the preparation period.

“Naïla on the map”

The contestants’ stay will be anything but a walk in the park. Whilst part of the programme will be devoted to exploring the landscapes, heritage and culture, it also includes meetings, a trip to Saint Barthélemy, photo shoots and the famous general knowledge test. Naïla is therefore already hard at work. Having also taken part in the IFTM Top Resa trade fair, she has been doing a series of photo shoots in Paris since Wednesday. She will be back in Saint-Martin on Saturday to fine-tune her performances with her three coaches: Evelyne Fleming for general knowledge and public speaking; Steeven Zamor, artistic director of the Your Angel agency and an experienced coach for beauty queens, for all aspects of her image; and Naomi Torrent, Miss Guadeloupe and third runner-up in Miss France 2026, to prepare her for her presentation to the jury.
The local organising committee is counting on the enthusiasm of everyone – individuals and businesses alike – to support her right up to the final. Dauphin Telecom has, in fact, already planned to send messages to its subscribers to rally as many people as possible. For Catherine Vermot de Boisrolin, the aim is to “put Naïla on the map”.
All this promises great visibility and adds a touch of glamour to a region that sorely needs it. All the media are already picking up on the news and extolling the beauty of a ‘paradise island’. The clock is ticking for the Local Authority! There are less than two months left to clear away the end-of-life vehicles, switch on the streetlights and fill in the potholes… because with 31 Miss contestants on the roads of Saint-Martin, it’s best to make sure none of them leaves… their crown behind.