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Discover Iris Mittenaere, the queen with a fascinating journey
32 years old, born on January 25, 1993 in Lille, Iris Mittenaere is a bit like the queen of beauty pageants made in France who managed to become a real public personality. I admit, her journey is not just a story of crowns, it’s much more.
I remember when she won Miss France 2016, it was already a surprise, but she was aiming even higher, Miss Universe in 2017 – and honestly, that blew everyone away. You know, it’s not just her beauty that gets attention, it’s her charisma, her naturalness.
Before all that, imagine a young girl from Steenvoorde, a bit shy, passionate about dental surgery, who didn’t plan to become a star. Her age, her desire to succeed as a dentist, defined her as much as her stunning charm. Luck knocked when a Facebook message encouraged her to enter a contest.
So yes, she put her studies on hold, but never really her desire to help others and succeed. All that with a height of 1.72m, golden eyes and an incredible sense of determination. Far from the Miss cliché, believe me.
Who is Iris Mittenaere? Journey of a Miss turned icon
Originally from the North, Iris grew up between Steenvoorde and Lille in a blended family, often torn between her mother and father in Perpignan. This somewhat broken childhood gives a very human touch to her story. At 22, she won the title of Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais then Miss France, which is already huge for someone so young.
Studying dental surgery, she had a real solid backup plan. But the beauty contests followed one another quickly. Miss Flanders, then Nord-Pas-de-Calais, to end with the crowning of Miss France 2016 and Miss Universe 2017. Yes, she is the first Frenchwoman with this record, a masterstroke that changes everything.
Her age and her journey make her exude a balance between youth and impressive maturity… not just talk, but real work behind it. You have surely seen her interviews where she talks about her dream of being a dentist, but she never really resumed her studies since.
Iris is not content to be just a beauty queen. She is also a TV presenter, influencer, and entrepreneur, multiplying projects with real energy. When she goes on stage, you feel all the seriousness and passion she puts into it, far beyond her height and natural elegance.
The path to Miss Universe: a series of coincidences and strong choices
Before her crowns made the headlines, Iris was working hard. She had just earned a high school diploma with honors, started medicine, then dental surgery, a course far from easy. And yet, an unexpected Facebook message pushed her to participate in Miss Flanders. Without that, who knows where she would be today?
She wins every contest in her path, each victory a stepping stone, until her fame really takes off. This girl from the North, down to earth, commands respect in every competition by her voice & simplicity. Moreover, her commitment to access to dental care really left a mark.
But once Miss Universe, the pressure rises, as does the notoriety. She lives one year in New York, shares an apartment with Miss USA, and has a blast in this glamorous world. Fortune and popularity quickly knock on her door, but she never loses her naturalness, that’s what’s nice to see.
With millions of followers on Instagram, she has been able to leverage this visibility to become a real influencer, not just a fleeting Miss. Her age remains an asset, as she reaches a young audience looking for inspiration.
Private life, ups and downs: behind Iris’s smile
Her love life has often been scrutinized. She had relationships with Kev Adams and Anthony Colette, relationships that attracted a lot of attention. More recently, she shared her life with Diego El Glaoui, influencer, with whom she got engaged in 2022. A real modern fairy tale, except that at the end of 2024, they announced their amicable breakup.
She has been very open about the subject, confiding how painful that separation was, especially because she still dreams of being a mother one day. This mix between public and complex private life makes her even more endearing, believe me.
She also talked about how her divorced parents influenced her view of family and love. It’s amazing how her personal story resonates in her choices today, notably when she says she prefers to be well alone than badly accompanied.
A real woman, who owns her fears and hopes, which is deeply moving. Her fortune hasn’t made her cynical, quite the opposite, she remains a model of simplicity and strength in everything she undertakes.
Recent projects and collaborations: when Iris Mittenaere has fun
At 32, her schedule is full: presenter on TF1 for “Ninja Warrior”, notable participation in “Dancing with the Stars” in 2018 where she reached the finals, she stays at the heart of the media. Clearly, she controls her image and knows how to surround herself with brilliant people.
Recently, she stayed at a luxury hotel on the Arcachon basin, La Co(o)rniche, a place between wild nature and refinement that seems to be her favorite refuge. She even took her two dogs to accompany her relaxing getaway, and the photos are really nice to see on her Instagram account.
At the same time, she multiplies collaborations with beauty and fashion brands, perfectly suited to her dynamic image. More than ever, her aura goes beyond the simple frame of beauty queen. Her age and experience give her a wise but always very accessible side.
It’s no surprise she regularly appears in the media like Elle, Cosmopolitan or Gala.
A quick recap of her key moments ✨
- 🏅 Miss France 2016 then Miss Universe 2017, the first Frenchwoman with this title
- 📚 Student in dental surgery, a much more discreet life before fame
- 🎤 TV presenter on TF1 since 2018, notably “Ninja Warrior”
- 💔 Private life in the spotlight, with ups and downs that make her human
- 📸 Influencer followed by over 3 million fans, with a natural style
- 🌊 Passionate about nature, particularly in love with the Arcachon basin
