Ève Gilles (born 9 July 2003) is a French model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss France 2024. She had previously been crowned Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais 2023 and is the fourth woman from Nord-Pas-de-Calais to win Miss France. Due to her pixie cut, Gilles was also cited by the French media as the first woman with short hair to become Miss France.
Gilles was born in Dunkirk to parents Bruno and Édith Gilles (née Calapin-Latchoumy), and was raised in the town of Quaëdypre in the Norddepartment.[1][2][3][4] Her father is a French land surveyor, while her mother works as his secretary and comes from the town of Sainte-MarieinRéunion, with TamilIndian ancestry originating from the Malabar Coast.[1] Gilles is the youngest of three daughters, with elder sisters Lisa and Lucie.[5][6][7] In her youth, Gilles was active in a variety of activities, such as dance, athletics, and equitation, and had been elected as a class representative throughout her education.[5] Gilles was educated at Lycée Jean-Bart in Dunkirk, where she aspired to become a neurologist and graduated with her baccalauréat with mention très bien honors in 2021.[8][9]
Prior to becoming Miss France, Gilles was a student at the University of Lille, studying mathematics and computer science with the career aspiration of becoming a statistician.[10] She had previously completed one semester of medical studies, but did not return after deciding that she no longer wished to pursue the medical field.[8] After ending her medical studies, Gilles spent one semester working at an egg factory in Wormhout, before returning to school as a mathematics and computer science student.[5][8]
Gilles began her career in pageantry after signing up to compete in the local Miss Hersin-Coupigny 2023 pageant.[11] She had aspired to become Miss France since her childhood, but was encouraged by her maternal grandfather to finally sign up to compete in a qualifying pageant.[12][13] When she first attempted to register for the pageant, she was measured to stand at 1.695 m (5 ft6+1⁄2in), shorter than the height requirement of 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in), and was prevented from participating until later reaching the height requirement through stretching.[14] The final was held in April 2023, which Gilles went on to win.[15][16] As Miss Hersin-Coupigny 2023, Gilles was qualified to compete in Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais 2023.[17]
Gilles later competed in Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais 2023 in October 2023 at the Arena Stade Couvert de LiévininLiévin, where she went on to win the title. As Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais 2023, she received the right to represent the region at Miss France 2024.[18][19]
Miss France 2024 was held on 16 December 2023 at the Zénith de DijoninDijon.[20][21][22] Gilles competed in the finals, where she advanced to the top fifteen and later the top five. At the end of the pageant, Gilles was declared the winner, being crowned by outgoing titleholder Indira AmpiotofGuadeloupe, becoming the fourth woman from Nord-Pas-de-Calais to win the title.[23][24][25][26] Her victory received media attention in France and internationally due to her pixie cut, with the French media dubbing Gilles as the first woman with short hair to be crowned Miss France.[26] In the aftermath of the competition, Gilles was the victim of cyberbullying in regards to her physical appearance, with a number of Internet users making negative comments about her hairstyle and body type.[27][28][29] Following the criticism, Gilles was defended by a number of French public figures, including politicians Sandrine Rousseau and Karima Delli.[30] As Miss France, Gilles was awarded a number of prizes and rewards, including a multitude gifts from sponsors, a year-long residence in a luxury Paris apartment, and an undisclosed monthly salary the equivalent of a senior executive in France.[31]
