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After the 2013 Miss France competition sparked a racism row over the "white as snow" contestants, the 2014 winner, a Franco-Beninese student, claimed her victory at the weekend was proof of France's acceptance of "mixed backgrounds" and cultures.
Franco-Beninese student Flora Coquerel has said she is proud to represent a "cosmopolitan" country after being crowned the new Miss France in a lavish ceremony.
Coquerel, a 19-year-old from Orléans, beat 33 other competitors to take the title in the nationally televised competition in Dijon on Saturday night.