Miss France's Island Getaway Proves Hectic Despite Tropical Setting
Beauty pageant winner balances competition season with university studies.
Eve Gilles landed back from Reunion with a phone full of photographs and a caption that said it all: “vacations went by too fast,” paired with a sad emoji. The 2024 Miss France winner, whose mother’s side of the family hails from the Indian Ocean island, had reason to be wistful.
The 20-image Instagram carousel she shared with partner Simon Favier documented a trip that was anything but idle. The couple hiked, visited the Niagara cascade and Voile de la Mariée waterfall, spent a beach day at Roches Noires, and took a helicopter tour across the island’s varied landscapes. Favier, 19 years her senior, was present throughout.
The holiday was not purely leisure. On Saturday, August 23, Gilles attended the Miss Reunion 2026 pageant at the Champ Fleuri theatre in Saint-Denis, where Laëtitia Roguet was crowned the new titleholder. Gilles described herself as attending “in good company,” with Favier at her side. She also found a practical solution to arriving without a handbag, tucking her mobile phone into her formal gown for the gala. At the event she secured a selfie with Frédéric Gilbert, president of the Miss France Society and producer of the Miss France competition for TF1.
The Reunion visit came just days after a strong international result. On Friday, July 31, in Poland, Gilles competed in Miss Supranational 2026 and finished as first runner-up, placing second overall behind Katrina Llegado of the Philippines. She wore that first-runner-up sash at the Reunion gala. Her competitive season had already been extensive: earlier in 2025 she advanced to the Top 30 at Miss Universe.
By contrast, autumn will look quite different. Gilles is preparing to return to university and resume her studies in earnest. Before her 2024 coronation she was completing her second year of a degree in MIASHS (mathematics and computer science applied to human and social sciences), with the goal of becoming a statistician. That ambition has not shifted.
The coming months will require her to hold two tracks simultaneously: the ongoing duties of Miss France and the academic work of finishing a degree in a demanding field. Whether she can carry both through to the end of her reign is the question her next chapter will answer.
Q&A
What academic field is Eve Gilles studying and what is her career goal?
Gilles is pursuing a degree in MIASHS (mathematics and computer science applied to human and social sciences) with the goal of becoming a statistician.
What pageant results did Gilles achieve in 2025 and 2026?
In July 2026, Gilles finished as first runner-up at Miss Supranational 2026 in Poland, placing second behind Katrina Llegado of the Philippines. Earlier in 2025, she advanced to the Top 30 at Miss Universe.
What did Gilles do during her recent trip to Reunion?
Gilles hiked, visited the Niagara cascade and Voile de la Mariée waterfall, spent a beach day at Roches Noires, took a helicopter tour, and attended the Miss Reunion 2026 pageant at Champ Fleuri theatre in Saint-Denis.
What challenge does Gilles face in the coming months?
She must balance the ongoing duties of her Miss France title with the academic demands of completing her degree in a demanding field, requiring her to manage two significant commitments simultaneously.