Miss Universe 2011 backlash: Miss France speaks out against Miss Angola

Miss Angola Leila Lopes reacts after being named Miss Universe 2011, before being crowned at the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Monday Sept. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) (Andre Penner - AP)

Miss France, Laury Thilleman, is offering some nasty, sore loser, sour grapes, culturally imperious comments about Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, who just won the 2011 Miss Universe pageant.

The French magazine Premiere.fr reports that Miss France, a top 10 finalist in the competition, made the comments during a telephone interview with the magazine. She said the win surprised her (actually she said all the contestants were surprised) and noted that Miss Angola hardly ever wore makeup and she often wore jeans. And she was reserved and lacking in personality. Oh, and the fact that the contest was held in Brazil played a role -- the implication being that Angola is a former Portuguese colony like Brazil. (If that’s the case then why didn’t they just elect Miss Brazil!? )

Here are Miss France’s quotes, as translated. Judge for yourself.

“She was the only girl I didn’t know very well. We didn’t see her much; she was very discreet. She was often in jeans and not wearing makeup. We were all surprised by her win. Many girls made efforts that were not rewarded. I don’t know, something is missing in her temperament. The fact that the competition was held in Brazil surely played a role.”

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