An incredible twist took place during the Miss New Caledonia 2024 ceremony. This Saturday, September 9, 2023, when everything suggested an election of Mathilda Lelong, the young woman was dismissed a few hours after her coronation. And for good reason… As revealed by France 1ʳᵉ, the overseas public service channel, the bailiff made an error in her counting, thus benefiting Mathilda Lelong. In reality, the chosen one only came fourth in the competition… The official and final result was made public this Wednesday, September 13, 2023.
The organizing committee of the competition revealed the result of the vote this Wednesdaye, ranking Emma Grousset first, and thus allowing her to represent the colors of New Caledonia at the 2024 ceremony ofMiss France, broadcast next December on TF1. The first runner-up is Camélia Hamoudi, the second runner-up is Cassandra Paryla-Mompelat, and Mathilda Lelong, elected for a few hours, only comes in fourth position and is crowned third runner-up.
The results of the first round were added to those of the second
Why such a gross error? VSAs France 1ʳᵉ explains, Mathilda Lelong came first at the end of the first round. But in the second round, the counters are supposed to be reset to zero, as provided for in the regulations. Problem: the bailiff forgot this key rule, and added the votes of the first with those of the second. She only realized her error afterwards, ”during the night from Saturday to Sunday”. If she ”takes her share of responsibility”, the sworn professional has nevertheless cast shame on the organizing committee, to which she blames ”a series of dysfunctions”.
This is not the first time that a counting error has benefited one candidate to the detriment of another.. In December 2015, at Miss Universe 2016, the presenter was wrong in naming Miss Colombia as the grand winner of the international competition. The young woman held up the crown and wore it for a few moments, before the host discovered her mistake… An involuntary error, caused by the cards handed to her by the production, and which gave Miss Colombia as the big winner.
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