Culture: The First Lady, Mrs Dominique Ouattara, hosted a luncheon in honor of the Miss France contestants

The First Lady, Mrs Dominique Ouattara, hosted a luncheon in honor of the 30 Miss France 2025 contestants at the prestigious Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire on Saturday, November 30, 2024.

These young women, from all over France, have been in Côte d’Ivoire since Sunday November 17, 2024, as part of their preparatory trip for this prestigious competition. It’s an opportunity for them to discover the rich ivorian culture rich, the spirit of hospitality  of the people and Côte d’Ivoire’s tourist wonders.

Mrs. Dominique Ouattara thanked Mr. Siandou Fofana, Minister of Tourism and Leisure, and all those who had contributed to the success of the trip. She also expressed her gratitude to Mr. Frédéric Gilbert, President of the Miss France Society, and Mrs. Cindy Fabre, Director of the Miss France competition, for having chosen Côte d’Ivoire as the destination for the preparations. The First Lady also encouraged the candidates to take full advantage of this unique experience, which will remain in their memories, while wishing them success and fulfillment for the rest of the competition. “I hope that this will be a memorable stay for each and every one of them, and they will leave Côte d’Ivoire with wonderful memories,” said Mrs Dominique Ouattara.

The First Lady was also keen to introduce her guests to the residents of the Foundation’s 1st reception center. Indeed, according to the program, after lunch, the 30 candidates for the 2025 contest and the current Miss France, Ms Eve Gilles are scheduled to visit the Case des Enfants. “The Case des Enfants, which you will visit this afternoon, is the first major project implemented by the Children Of Africa Foundation when it was created in 1998. This reception center, which we originally made available to street children, quickly became a haven of peace for disadvantaged children in Abidjan,” explained Madame Dominique Ouattara. The First Lady also explained that, thanks to the Foundation’s 8th gala, the Case des Enfants has been renovated and enlarged to accommodate more children.

For Mrs Dominique Ouattara, the visit of her guests on their way to the Miss France title is far from insignificant. Indeed, for the wife of the Head of State, this visit is a wonderful example of self-sacrifice in favor of those in need. “You are proof that outward beauty takes on its full meaning when accompanied by deep-rooted values such as solidarity, generosity and humanitarian commitment”, said Mrs Dominique Ouattara.  According to her, by giving time to these children and sharing a moment with them, they are giving them joy and happiness. “And that’s priceless. I encourage you to cultivate this humanity, because your voice is now a lever for noble and useful causes for others”, she advised.

Mr. Frédéric Gilbert, President of the Miss France Society, revealed that this trip to Côte d’Ivoire demonstrates the very close ties between France and Côte d’Ivoire. He revealed that the candidates for the title of Miss France 2025 were looking forward to meeting up at the Children’s Hut. In fact,  “each of them has prepared a gift for the kids”.

This friendly ceremony also saw the participation of renowned artists such as Singuila, the Magic System Group, Yodé and Siro, Alpha Blondy and Débordo Leekunfa, who added a festive touch to the luncheon.

This moment of exchange and conviviality marked a new stage in the strengthening of cultural and friendly ties between Côte d’Ivoire and France, through a large-scale event celebrating beauty, elegance and diversity.