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You surely know her without even realizing it. Maïtena Biraben is kind of that voice, that face we often see on TV for three decades, but with an authenticity that doesn’t cheat. Born on July 2, 1967 in Saint-Denis, she keeps in her eyes the reflection of a youth spent between Paris and the Landes, a mix that gave her that straightforward and sensitive personality at the same time.
Honestly, thinking back on her journey is both surprising and inspiring. She didn’t follow the classic path of TV stars. No, she went through RTS in Switzerland, a quiet little place where she honed her style before returning to France. That’s where she really started to make a name for herself, in her own way, with shows unlike any other.
She has that thing, you know, that way of speaking to viewers as if she was just a friend telling her stories. Maybe that’s why, even at her age, she still attracts the audience. Moreover, she has managed to reshape her career several times, like a rebirth, always ready to tackle a new project with that almost contagious energy.
So, what is Maïtena Biraben today? An essential figure of the small screen, for sure. But she is also an engaged woman who doesn’t hide her values, her lucidity, and her fights, notably with her media “Mesdames” which highlights women over 45, a real breath of fresh air in this industry often obsessed with youth.
The deep identity of Maïtena Biraben, host and producer with an unusual career
So, let’s dive into the origins. Maïtena was born in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, in 1967. Her father, a Basque-origin photograver, and her mother, first an advertiser then a secretary, gave this young girl an education a bit out of the ordinary, especially after their move to the Landes where she attended a boarding school run by Dominican sisters. Quite far from the TV world, imagine that?
After getting her baccalaureate, she went to study history at the Sorbonne. Yes, history, not media. But this curious side, passionate about stories and human tales, she has always kept it, certainly the key to her success in conducting deep interviews.
Before becoming the TV star we know, Maïtena worked at Radio suisse romande and on TSR, Swiss television. She quickly became a popular figure there, but she chose to come back to France, already showing her desire to reach further. It was then that she turned the Swiss page to tackle the big fish in the French audiovisual landscape.
This somewhat winding path, with multiple tries on different channels like M6, France 2, or France 3, shows a woman who never stopped at a failure. On the contrary, each little setback pushed her to reinvent herself, true to herself but always on the move.
The highlights of her television career, between successes and storms
Her fortune of notoriety owes much to “Les Maternelles” on France 5, where she brought a human touch to a sometimes somewhat cold genre. This educational show even earned her a 7 d’Or, which, frankly, isn’t given to everyone. That was the first recognition, but Maïtena didn’t intend to stop there.
Then, she followed with Canal+, first hosting “La Matinale”, then “Le Supplément”, and finally “Le Grand Journal”, which she took over after Antoine de Caunes. This last adventure was a real challenge, and frankly, that’s where things got tough. With declining audiences and some controversies… But well, she held on, with that temperament that never lets go.
An anecdote? Ah yes, the famous day when she repeated on air the words of the Front National, that caused a stir. That marks a career, that does. But she did not let herself be defeated. And the rest, you know it, is also a legal battle which ended with a victory, compensation of more than 3.4 million euros, proving, despite everything, that her fortune is not just about her TV career.
After Canal+, she ventured into other paths, notably the digital media Mesdames, which she co-directs. It’s a real breath of fresh air, a space that gives voice back to women beyond the famous 50-year mark, a project that makes sense in our society obsessed with age and appearance size.
Behind the scenes: private life and personal commitments of Maïtena Biraben
Let’s move on to her life as a woman, because, you know, behind the PAF star, there is a mother, a partner, with ups and downs. Maïtena has two sons, Lucas, now 29, and Gabriel, 19. Two boys born of different relationships, which sometimes bring their share of stories, but also a lot of love.
She has been married since 2012 to Pierre Clément, also a journalist, whom she casually met on the set of Les Maternelles, when he was deputy chief editor. Their story caused some professional turmoil as Pierre had been let go by France 5. But well, in the end, family is what matters most.
I admit, she often speaks with palpable emotion about those moments when her children leave the house. “For you, it’s nothing, but for me, it’s huge,” she said in 2017. It’s simple, she doesn’t want to smother them, she wants them to grow, to find their place in the world, a real role of a contemporary and lucid mother.
Maïtena also has strong roots; she is even a distant cousin of a historical figure, Renée Lafont, shot during the Spanish civil war. Perhaps this family past gave her the strength and clear-sightedness she is known for on screen.
The recent projects of Maïtena Biraben and her remarkable collaborations
In 2024, she published “La femme invisible”, a book that shook quite a few people. Because she talks there about a taboo subject: how society erases women after 50. It’s touching, intelligent, and so necessary. This book is a bit the cherry on the cake of a career that has always sought to speak truthfully.
With Mesdames Productions, launched with Alexandra Crucq, she offers a digital platform called “mesdames.media”. The idea, you guessed it, is to give power back to women over 45, those who don’t fit the usual mold of media.
She also continues to appear on the radio and collaborates with figures like Roselyne Bachelot. Her journey is ultimately a mix of personal commitments, women’s battles, and a permanent desire to offer spaces where free speech can be expressed.
In other words, Maïtena is a quiet strength, an authentic presence. In 2026, she still embodies this rare mix of experience, passion, and desire to change things in her own way, without frills.
The key milestones that shaped the career and personality of Maïtena Biraben 🌟
- 🎤 Beginnings at Radio suisse romande (1989-1996), first encounter with the microphone
- 📺 Launch and success of “Les Maternelles” on France 5, show rewarded with a 7 d’Or
- 📡 Hosting major shows on Canal+: La Matinale, Le Supplément, Le Grand Journal
- ⚖️ Major legal conflict with Canal+ and significant victory in 2018-2023
- 💻 Creation of the digital media “mesdames.media” with Alexandra Crucq in 2024
- 📚 Publication of “La femme invisible”, a tribute to women aged 50 and over
- 👪 Balanced family life with two sons and a journalist husband, illustration of a successful personal life
What impresses me about Maïtena is her ability to never let herself be boxed in, to always seek new paths. She gracefully combines her emotions, her political intelligence, and her tenderness. And your view of her evolves too, I assure you.
To find even more info and details, you can read her full profile and get closer to her universe on Babelio or browse her story on Wikipedia. If you are curious about behind-the-scenes and anecdotes, the profile offered by OJIM is a real plus. And for a more intimate focus on her life, Gala offers you a detailed report.
