Miss Belgium
| Formation | 1929 |
|---|---|
| Type | Beauty pageant |
| Headquarters | Brussels |
| Location | |
Membership | |
Official language | Dutch French |
President | Darline Devos |
| Website | www |
Miss Belgium is a national beauty pageant in Belgium. The winner of Miss Belgium automatically represents her country at the Miss World and Miss Universe pageants if the dates do not overlap.
Rules
- Belgian nationality
- to be never married and without children
- to have an age of 18 to 27 years [2], [3]
History
Queen of the Beach
The first contest looking for the most beautiful girl in Belgium was in 1928. It was journalist Jean-Jacques Fortis who organised the contest "La Reine de la Plage" - "The Queen of the Beach" as a promotion for the journal Piccolo, now Le Soir. It was Anne Koyaert who won the contest in Blankenberge.[1]
Miss Belgium
Following the success, Fortis was allowed to organise a bigger election. In 1929, Jenny Vanparys was the first girl officially crowned Miss Belgium. She participated in Miss Europe. The next year, Netta Duchâteau was the winner. Duchâteau participated and won the International Pageant of Pulchritude in 1931, earning her the title "Miss Universe 1931". Duchâteau became an instant celebrity and the Miss Belgium contest got a lot of attention.
In 1968, Cécile Muller took interest in the contest. In 1969 she organised for the first time Miss Belgium. Muller, who thought herself to be a feminist, took the contest very serious. She demanded the participants of the contest to be bilingual - being able to talk Dutch and French, the two main languages of Belgium. Muller gave the participants training how to handle interviews. She also followed and guided the winner of the Miss Belgium-title very strictly. Thanks to the guidance of Muller, the contest became bigger every year.[2] Muller saw the contest as an act of feminism and tried not to find the most beautiful face of Belgium but a modern young woman who could represent Belgium in every way.[3] She succeeded on launching the contest at television. In 1993 the contest was broadcast on VTM for the Flanders region and at RTL for the Walloon region. A million viewers saw the elections of Miss Belgium that decennia. Many of those winners - including Goedele Liekens, Lynn Wesenbeek, Sandrine Corman, Dina Tersago and Julie Taton - had successful careers in television.
In 2005, business woman Darline Devos became the new organiser of the election. She organized the election further. She succeeded in changing the preliminary provincial elections and applying the same rules in those contests. Every winner of those provincial contest was awarded one of the same eleven Swarovski-crowns.[4] A new crown for Miss Belgium was made, consisting of 500 Swarovski-crystals.[5] Devos also founded the Miss Belgium house, a house in the center of the country. It serves as the work place for the organisation of Miss Belgium and a place to stay for the reigning Miss Belgium.[6] She made a new deal for the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium with broadcaster VT4.[7] Although the girls of the next years were more successful at the Miss Universe and Miss World contests, the Belgian audience lost its interest in the election. Caused by declining viewership of the election, the contest was broadcast in the Dutch-speaking region by Vijftv, the small affiliate channel of VT4, in 2010-2011 and on digital broadcasters Life! in 2012, Studio 100 TV in 2013–2014, Ment TV in 2015, Fox Flanders in 2016-2018 and Eclips TV in 2019.[8] In the French-speaking region broadcaster RTL stopped broadcasting the election in 2012. It was succeeded by digital broadcaster STAR TV in 2012 and AB3 in 2013–2018. Since 2019 the contest no longer broadcast in Wallonia. Additionally, the election also meets criticism in Wallonia because most winners are from Flanders.[9]
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the election of Miss Belgium 2021 was postponed from January 2020 to March 2021.[10]
Controversy
Miss Belgium was met with controversy at different occasions. Miss Belgium 1952, Anne-Marie Pauwels refused to part from her boyfriend during the contest of Miss World 1952. She was disqualified and Belgium wasn't allowed to participate at Miss World 1953.
In 1971, the Dolle Mina's jumped on stage during the final of the election, yelling “We are not cattle!”.[11]
Miss Belgium 2002, Ann Van Elsen, was one of the candidates who refused to participate in the Miss World competition held in Nigeria in to protest the conviction of Amina Lawal.[12] This was against the wishes of the Miss Belgium organisation. Van Elsen was replaced by her first runner-up Sylvie Doclot.
Miss Belgium 2006, Virginie Claes, was accused of buying her title. No proof of this was found.[13]
The election of Alizee Poulicek, a native speaker of French and Czech, has even been linked to the 2007–08 Belgian government formation. The reason is that, during the traditional language test, she failed to speak or understand Dutch. The audience even booed her for this.[14] The behaviour of the audience was noted across Europe,[15][16] and the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws sarcastically put the headline "Miss Belgium doesn't speak Dutch. Our country is in a deep crisis".
Miss Belgium 2017, Romanie Schotte, was accused of racism because of a post at Instagram. An investigation was started by Unia (the Center of Equal Opportunities) on 17 January but it was already closed on 19 January.[17] In 2018 however, Miss Belgium 2018 Angeline Flor Pua, was met with much racism after winning. The Secretary of State of Equal Opportunities Zuhal Demir dissaproved the racist comments and applauded the new Miss Belgium.[18] The reaction of Flor Pua was well received and even broadcast on the BBC.[19]
Titleholders
La Reine de la Plage
| Year | Miss Belgium | Province | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Anne Koyaert |
Pre-World War II
| Year | Miss Belgium | Province | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | Jenny Vanparays | Brussels |  Brussels
|
|
| 1930 | Netta Duchâteau | Namur |  Wallonia
|
Miss Universe 1931 |
| 1931 | Suzanne Daudin | |||
| 1932 | Simone Eraerts | Brussels | Brussels
|
|
| 1933 | Georgette Casteels | Brussels | Brussels
|
|
| 1934 | Nadia Benedetti | |||
| 1936 | Laura Torfs | |||
| 1937 | Josée Decœur | |||
| 1938 | Mary Van Leda | |||
| 1939 | Gilberte de Somme | Namur | Wallonia
|
Post-World War II
.jpg)
| Year | Miss Belgium | Province | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Ludovica Bil | |||
| 1947 | Yvette Draux | |||
| 1948 | Lucienne Van de Weghe | |||
| 1949 | Andréa Bouillon | |||
| 1950 | Nicole Poncelet | |||
| 1951 | Lucienne Zadworny | |||
| 1952 | Anne-Marie Pauwels | disqualified at Miss World | ||
| 1953 | Sépia Degehet | |||
| 1954 | Nelly Dehem | |||
| 1955 | Rosette Ghislain | |||
| 1956 | Madeleine Hotelet | |||
| 1957 | Jeanne Chandelle | |||
| 1958 | Michèle Goethals | |||
| 1959 | Diane Hidalgo | |||
| 1960 | Huberte Box | |||
| 1961 | Jacqueline Oroi | |||
| 1962 | Christine Delit | |||
| 1963 | Irène Godin | |||
| 1964 | Danièle Defrère | |||
| 1965 | Lucy Nossent | |||
| 1966 | Lucy Nossent | |||
| 1967 | Mauricette Sironval | |||
| 1968 | Sonja Doumen | Dilsen |  Flanders
|
|
| 1969 | Maud Alin | Hainaut | Wallonia
|
|
| 1970 | Francine Martin | Liège | Wallonia
|
|
| 1971 | Martine De Hert | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 1972 | Anne-Marie Roger | Brussels | Brussels
|
|
| 1973 | Christiane De Visch | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 1974 | Anne-Marie Sikorski | Liège | Wallonia
|
|
| 1975 | Christine Delmelle | Liège | Wallonia
|
|
| 1976 | Yvette Aelbrecht | Brussels | Brussels
|
|
| 1977 | Claudine Vasseur | Brussels | Brussels
|
|
| 1978 | Maggy Moreau | Brussels | Brussels
|
|
| 1979 | Christine Cailliau | Brussels | Brussels
|
|
| 1980 | Brigitte Billen | Limburg | Flanders
|
|
| 1981 | Dominique Van Eeckhoudt | Brussels | Brussels
|
|
| 1982 | Marie-Pierre Lemaître | Brussels | Brussels
|
|
| 1983 | Francoise Bostoen | West Flanders | Flanders
|
|
| 1984 | Brigitte Muyshondt | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 1985 | An Van Den Broeck | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 1986 | Goedele Liekens | Flemish Brabant | Flanders
|
|
| 1987 | Lynn Wesenbeek | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 1988 | Daisy Van Cauwenbergh | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 1989 | Anne De Baetzelier | Flemish Brabant | Flanders
|
|
| 1990 | Katia Alens | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 1991 | Anke Vandermeersch | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 1992 | Sandra Joine | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 1993 | Stephanie Meire | West Flanders | Flanders
|
|
| 1994 | Ilse De Meulemeester | Flemish Brabant | Flanders
|
|
| 1995 | Véronique De Kock | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 1996 | Laurence Borremans | Walloon Brabant | Wallonia
|
|
| 1997 | Sandrine Corman | Liège | Wallonia
|
|
| 1998 | Tanja Dexters | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 1999 | Brigitta Callens | East Flanders | Flanders
|
|
| 2000 | Joke van de Velde | East Flanders | Flanders
|
|
| 2001 | Dina Tersago | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 2002 | Ann Van Elsen | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 2003 | Julie Taton | Namur | Wallonia
|
|
| 2004 | Ellen Petri | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 2005 | Tatiana Silva | Brussels | Brussels
|
|
| 2006 | Virginie Claes | Limburg | Flanders
|
|
| 2007 | Annelien Coorevits | West Flanders | Flanders
|
|
| 2008 | Alizée Poulicek | Liège | Wallonia
|
|
| 2009 | Zeynep Sever | Brussels | Brussels
|
|
| 2010 | Cilou Annys | West Flanders | Flanders
|
|
| 2011 | Justine De Jonckheere | West Flanders | Flanders
|
|
| 2012 | Laura Beyne | Brussels | Brussels
|
|
| 2013 | Noémie Happart | Liège | Wallonia
|
|
| 2014 | Laurence Langen | Limburg | Flanders
|
|
| 2015 | Annelies Törös | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 2016 | Lenty Frans | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 2017 | Romanie Schotte | West Flanders | Flanders
|
|
| 2018 | Angeline Flor Pua | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 2019 | Elena Castro Suarez | Antwerp | Flanders
|
|
| 2020 | Céline Van Ouytsel | Antwerp | Flanders
|
TBA |
Big Four pageants representatives
Miss Universe Belgium
- : Declared as Winner
- : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
- : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
- : Ended as special awards winner
- Miss Belgium has started to send a Miss Belgium to Miss Universe from 1952. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.
| Year | Province | Miss Belgium | Placement at Miss Universe | Special Awards | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Antwerp | Dhenia Covens | TBD | TBD | Due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, Second Runner-up of Miss Belgium 2018 designated as Miss Universe Belgium 2020 |
| 2019 | Antwerp | Angeline Flor Pua | Unplaced | Miss World 2018 (Top 30) | |
| 2018 | Namur | Zoé Brunet | Top 20 | Miss World Cup 2018 | |
| 2017 | East Flanders | Liesbeth Claus | Unplaced | ||
| 2016 | East Flanders | Stephanie Geldhof | Unplaced | ||
| 2015 | Antwerp | Annelies Törös | Top 15 | ||
| 2014 | Flemish Brabant | Anissa Blondin | Unplaced | ||
| 2013 | Liège | Noémie Happart | Unplaced | Miss World 2013 (Top 20) | |
| 2012 | Brussels | Laura Beyne | Unplaced | ||
| 2011 | West Flanders | Justine De Jonckheere | Unplaced | ||
| 2010 | West Flanders | Cilou Annys | Top 15 | ||
| 2009 | Brussels | Zeynep Sever | Top 15 | ||
| 2008 | Liège | Alizée Poulicek | Unplaced | ||
| 2007 | West Flanders | Annelien Coorevits | Unplaced | ||
| 2006 | Brussels | Tatiana Silva | Unplaced | ||
| 2005 | Brussels | Debby De Waele | Unplaced | ||
| 2004 | Brussels | Lindsy DeHollander | Unplaced | ||
| 2003 | Namur | Julie Taton | Unplaced | ||
| 2002 | Antwerp | Ann Van Elsen | Unplaced | ||
| 2001 | Antwerp | Dina Tersago | Unplaced | ||
| 2000 | East Flanders | Joke van de Velde | Unplaced | ||
| 1999 | Antwerp | Tanja Dexters | Unplaced | ||
| 1998 | Liège | Sandrine Corman | Unplaced | ||
| 1997 | Walloon Brabant | Laurence Borremans | Unplaced | Miss World 1996 (Top 15) | |
| 1996 | Antwerp | Véronique De Kock | Unplaced | ||
| 1995 | Did not compete | ||||
| 1994 | — | Christelle Roelandts | Unplaced | Best Hairstyle | |
| 1993 | Antwerp | Sandra Joine | Unplaced | ||
| 1992 | Antwerp | Anke Vandermeersch | Top 6 | ||
| 1991 | Antwerp | Katia Alens | Unplaced | ||
| 1990 | Did not compete | ||||
| 1989 | Flemish Brabant | Anne De Baetzelier | Unplaced | ||
| 1988 | Antwerp | Daisy Van Cauwenbergh | Unplaced | ||
| 1987 | Did not compete | ||||
| 1986 | Flemish Brabant | Goedele Liekens | Unplaced | ||
| 1985 | Antwerp | An Van Den Broeck | Unplaced | ||
| 1984 | Antwerp | Brigitte Muyshondt | Unplaced | Miss International 1978 (2nd Runner-up) | |
| 1983 | West Flanders | Francoise Bostoen | Unplaced | Miss Europe 1984 (3rd Runner-up) | |
| 1982 | Brussels | Marie-Pierre Lemaître | Unplaced | ||
| 1981 | Brussels | Dominique Van Eeckhoudt | 4th Runner-up | Miss United Nations 1981, Miss International 1981 (Top 15), Miss World 1981 (Top 15) | |
| 1980 | Limburg | Brigitte Billen | Unplaced | ||
| 1979 | Brussels | Christine Cailliau | Unplaced | ||
| 1978 | — | Françoise Helene Julia Moens | Top 12 | ||
| 1977 | Brussels | Claudine Vasseur | Unplaced | ||
| 1976 | Brussels | Yvette Aelbrecht | Unplaced | ||
| 1975 | Liège | Christine Delmelle | Unplaced | ||
| 1974 | Liège | Anne-Marie Sikorski | Unplaced | ||
| 1973 | Antwerp | Christiane De Visch | Unplaced | ||
| 1972 | Brussels | Anne-Marie Roger | Top 12 | ||
| 1971 | Antwerp | Martine De Hert | Unplaced | ||
| 1970 | Liège | Francine Martin | Unplaced | ||
| 1969 | — | Danièle Roels | Unplaced | ||
| 1968 | — | Sonja Doumen | Unplaced | ||
| 1967 | — | Mauricette Sironval | Unplaced | ||
| 1966 | — | Mireille De Man | Unplaced | ||
| 1965 | — | Lucy Emilie Nossent | Unplaced | ||
| 1964 | — | Danièle Defrère | Unplaced | ||
| 1963 | — | Irène Godin | Unplaced | ||
| 1962 | — | Christine Delit | Unplaced | ||
| 1961 | — | Nicole Ksinozenicki | Unplaced | ||
| 1960 | — | Huberte Box | Unplaced | ||
| 1959 | — | Hélène Savigny | Top 15 | ||
| 1958 | — | Liliane Taelemans | Unplaced | ||
| 1957 | — | Janine Hanotiau | Unplaced | ||
| 1956 | — | Lucienne Auquier | Top 15 | ||
| 1955 | — | Nicole De Meyer | Top 15 | ||
| 1954 | — | Christiane Darnay Neckaerts | Unplaced | ||
| 1953 | — | Elayne Cortois | Unplaced | ||
| 1952 | — | Myriam Lynn | Unplaced | ||
Miss World Belgium
- : Declared as Winner
- : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
- : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
- : Ended as special awards winner
| Year | Province | Miss Belgium | Placement at Miss World | Special Awards | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Antwerp | Céline Van Ouytsel | TBD | ||
| 2020 | Due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, no pageant in 2020 | ||||
| 2019 | Antwerp | Elena Castro Suarez | Unplaced | ||
| 2018 | Antwerp | Angeline Flor Pua | Top 30 | Miss Philippines—Europe 2016 | |
| 2017 | West Flanders | Romanie Schotte | Unplaced | ||
| 2016 | Antwerp | Lenty Frans | Top 11 | Miss World Europe | Topped the preliminary interview (tied with Korea and Puerto Rico) |
| 2015 | West Flanders | Leylah Alliët | Unplaced | ||
| 2014 | Flemish Brabant | Anissa Blondin | Unplaced | ||
| 2013 | Liège | Noémie Happart | Top 20 | ||
| 2012 | Brussels | Laura Beyne | Unplaced | ||
| 2011 | West Flanders | Justine De Jonckheere | Unplaced | ||
| 2010 | West Flanders | Cilou Annys | Unplaced | ||
| 2009 | Brussels | Zeynep Sever | Unplaced | ||
| 2008 | Liège | Alizée Poulicek | Unplaced | ||
| 2007 | Brussels | Halima Chehaima | Unplaced | Miss International Tourism 2007 | |
| 2006 | Limburg | Virginie Claes | Unplaced | ||
| 2005 | Brussels | Tatiana Silva | Unplaced | ||
| 2004 | Antwerp | Ellen Petri | Unplaced | ||
| 2003 | Namur | Julie Taton | Unplaced | ||
| 2002 | — | Sylvie Doclot | Unplaced | ||
| 2001 | Antwerp | Dina Tersago | Unplaced | ||
| 2000 | East Flanders | Joke van de Velde | Unplaced | ||
| 1999 | East Flanders | Brigitta Callens | Unplaced | ||
| 1998 | Antwerp | Tanja Dexters | Unplaced | ||
| 1997 | Liège | Sandrine Corman | Unplaced | ||
| 1996 | Walloon Brabant | Laurence Borremans | Top 10 | ||
| 1995 | Antwerp | Véronique De Kock | Unplaced | ||
| 1994 | Flemish Brabant | Ilse De Meulemeester | Unplaced | ||
| 1993 | West Flanders | Stéphanie Meire | Unplaced | ||
| 1992 | Antwerp | Sandra Joine | Unplaced | ||
| 1991 | Antwerp | Anke Vandermeersch | Unplaced | ||
| 1990 | Antwerp | Katia Alens | Unplaced | ||
| 1989 | — | Greet Ramaekers | Unplaced | ||
| 1988 | Antwerp | Daisy Van Cauwenbergh | Unplaced | ||
| 1987 | Antwerp | Lynn Wesenbeek | Unplaced | ||
| 1986 | Flemish Brabant | Goedele Liekens | Unplaced | ||
| 1985 | Antwerp | An Van Den Broeck | Unplaced | ||
| 1984 | Antwerp | Brigitte Muyshondt | Unplaced | ||
| 1983 | West Flanders | Francoise Bostoen | Top 15 | ||
| 1982 | Brussels | Marie-Pierre Lemaître | Unplaced | ||
| 1981 | Brussels | Dominique Van Eeckhoudt | Top 15 | ||
| 1980 | Limburg | Brigitte Billen | Unplaced | ||
| 1979 | Brussels | Christine Cailliau | Unplaced | ||
| 1978 | — | Françoise Helene Julia Moens | Unplaced | ||
| 1977 | Brussels | Claudine Vasseur | Unplaced | ||
| 1976 | Brussels | Yvette Aelbrecht | Unplaced | ||
| 1975 | Liège | Christine Delmelle | Unplaced | ||
| 1974 | Liège | Anne-Marie Sikorski | Unplaced | ||
| 1973 | Antwerp | Christiane De Visch | Unplaced | ||
| 1972 | Brussels | Anne-Marie Roger | Unplaced | ||
| 1971 | Antwerp | Martine De Hert | Unplaced | ||
| 1970 | Liège | Francine Martin | Unplaced | ||
| 1969 | Hainaut | Maud Alin | Unplaced | Miss Friendship | |
| 1968 | — | Sonja Doumen | Unplaced | ||
| 1967 | — | Mauricette Sironval | Unplaced | ||
| 1966 | — | Mireille De Man | Unplaced | ||
| 1965 | — | Lucy Emilie Nossent | Unplaced | ||
| 1964 | — | Danièle Defrère | Unplaced | ||
| 1963 | — | Irène Godin | Unplaced | ||
| 1962 | — | Christine Delit | 5th Runner-up | ||
| 1961 | — | Jacqueline Oroi | Unplaced | ||
| 1960 | — | Huberte Box | Unplaced | ||
| 1959 | — | Diane Hidalgo | Unplaced | ||
| 1958 | — | Michèle Goethals | Unplaced | ||
| 1957 | — | Janine Hanotiau | Unplaced | ||
| 1956 | — | Madeleine Hotelet | Unplaced | ||
| 1955 | — | Rosette Ghislain | Unplaced | ||
| 1954 | — | Nelly Elvire Dehem | Unplaced | ||
See also
- Mister Belgium Personality
- Miss International Belgium
- Miss Earth Belgium
- Miss Belgian Beauty
- Belgium at major beauty pageants
References
- ^ "Miss België door de jaren heen in 4 minuten". VRT NWS (in Dutch). January 13, 2018.
- ^ "Miss België-boegbeeld Cécile Müller (81) overleden". HLN (in Dutch). July 10, 2012.
- ^ "Voor 'de kolonel' was Miss België verkiezen een daad van feminisme". De Morgen (in Dutch). July 11, 2012.
- ^ "Al 600 meisjes kandidaat voor Miss België". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). March 22, 2007.
- ^ "Nieuw kroontje voor Miss België". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). December 12, 2007.
- ^ "Miss België krijgt eigen huis in Brussel". De Standaard (in Dutch). August 22, 2007.
- ^ "VT4 rijft uitzendrechten Miss België binnen". De Standaard (in Dutch). January 24, 2007.
- ^ "Einde dreigt voor Miss België". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). September 1, 2011.
- ^ "31 Miss Belgique francophones en 90 ans seulement". La Libre (in French). November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Verkiezing Miss België definitief uitgesteld". HLN (in Dutch). August 31, 2020.
- ^ "3 best protests in Belgian history". The Bulletin. December 18, 2014.
- ^ "Misstoestanden: Ann Van Elsen (22) gaat niet naar Nigeria". De Standaard (in Dutch). November 15, 2002.
- ^ "Miss België kocht stemmen voor titel". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). January 6, 2006.
- ^ [1] Archived December 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ I språkligt blåsväder | Nyheter | Aftonbladet
- ^ "Miss Belgium fails her first test". BBC News. 2007-12-17. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ "Unia neemt geen verdere stappen tegen Miss België". Knack (in Dutch). February 1, 2017.
- ^ "Nieuwe Miss België mikpunt van racistische reacties". De Morgen (in Dutch). January 14, 2018.
- ^ "BBC zoekt Miss België Angeline Flor Pua op: "Ik ben gechoqueerd"". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). January 18, 2018.
External links
