Clémence Botino (born 22 January 1997) is a French beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss France 2020. She represented France at Miss Universe 2021, where she reached the top 10. She also represented her country at Miss World 2023, where she reached the top 40.
Early life and education
Clémence Botino was born 22 January 1997[2] in Le Gosier, Guadeloupe, France.[3] In her adolescence, she was a pianist then dancer, especially in salsa.[4]
She obtained a scientificbaccalauréat in 2014. At the age of 17, she lived for a year in the United States and studied costume at an international school in Miami, to improve her English.[5]
On 14 December 2019, she won Miss France 2020 at the Dôme de Marseille.[8] She received 31.95% of the public vote, narrowly winning ahead of Lou Ruat (Miss Provence) with 30.66%, succeeding Vaimalama Chaves, Miss France 2019, and became the third Miss Guadeloupe to win Miss France after Véronique de la Cruz in 1993 and Corinne Coman in 2003. Before her win, it was announced in early December that Botino was first in the general culture test of the Miss France competition, with a mark of 17.5 out of 20.[9] She ended her reign as Miss France on 19 December 2020 after crowning Amandine Petit as her successor during Miss France 2021, held at Puy du Fou in Les Epesses.[10]
Botino represented France at Miss Universe 2021.[11] She was originally set to represent France at Miss Universe 2020, but due to potential date conflicts between Miss Universe 2021 and Miss France 2022, she was instead switched to Miss Universe 2021 while Petit competed at Miss Universe 2020.[12] Botino tested positive for COVID-19 upon arriving at Miss Universe, and was taken to a government isolation hotel. She had been fully vaccinated, and had been tested upon departure.[13] She was released from quarantine after ten days and was authorized to rejoin the competition.[14]
For the national costume competition, Botino wore an outfit paying tribute to Josephine Baker, made of a set of rhinestone lingerie adorned with jewels and large feather wings.[15][16] Her performance during the evening gown competition was less successful, as she tripped on the hem of her dress.[17][18] Botino reached the top ten, the highest placement among the European candidates.[19]
