Mbathio Beye Crowned First Ever 'Miss Black France' Amongst Controversy (PHOTOS, POLL)

France has a new queen--beauty queen that is. Mbathio Beye has been crowned the first "Miss Black France"

But there was a lot of hoopla surrounding the pageant, so we're surprised it even took place.

According to the pageant's organizer Frédéric Royer, the goal of the event was to “celebrate black beauty,” and "to shine a light on the many Black women in this country who are rarely given any media attention."

Yet the last time woman of color to took home the "Miss France" title was only three years ago in 2009 when Chloé Mortaud won—a biracial woman of African American and French descent.

Protesters have called the "Miss Black France" pageant "stupid," "dangerous" and "hostile." Even the founder and president of the French Representative Council of Black Associations (CRAN), Patrick Lozes, said the pageant is hardly “progressive.”

But despite these strong sentiments the pageant commenced and crowned it's queen.

Beye was officially named the first "Miss Black France" Saturday night in Paris, after being selected from a pool of 1,000 applicants and ultimately competing amongst 17 other finalists. Beye, 21, hails from Senegal and is a marketing student.

Here's a look at the first "Miss Black France" and a slideshow of all the black beauty queens, past and present.

Correction: A previous version of this story stated in error that Sonia Rolland was the last woman of color to win "Miss France." We regret this mistake.

Quick Poll

Are Race Based Pageants Ok?

Yes. There are not enough opportunities for minority women to shine.

Maybe. I don't have a problem with them, as long as they don't put down other races.

No. They are a huge step back from moving toward a post racial world.

VOTE

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Loading Slideshow

• Janelle Commissiong (Trinidad & Tobago): Miss Universe 1977

• Vanessa Williams: Miss America 1983

• Suzette Charles: Miss America 1984

  Note: Charles was given the title after Vanessa Williams stepped down following her nude pictorial scandal

• Debbye Turner: Miss America 1990

• Carole Anne-Marie Gist: Miss USA 1990

• Marjorie Vincent: Miss America 1991

• Kenya Moore: Miss USA 1993

• Kimberly Aiken: Miss America 1994

• Wendy Fitzwilliam (Trinidad & Tobago) : Miss Universe 1998

• Mpule Kwelagobe (Botswana): Miss Universe 1999

• Erika Harold: Miss America 2003

• Ericka Dunlap: Miss America 2004

• Caressa Cameron: Miss America 2010

• Leila Lopes (Angola): Miss Universe 2011

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Comments

[lovelyliberalchick]

02:50 AM on 05/11/2012

I will make out with her if she allow me.

[tiwiibaby]

05:24 PM on 05/02/2012

YOU GO GIRl....

[Nutrition Supervisor]

04:35 PM on 05/02/2012

I remember when I was skinny.......

[lovelyliberalchick]

02:48 AM on 05/11/2012

go back to gym

[Nutrition Supervisor]

06:38 AM on 05/11/2012

STD infected creatures such as yourself sweat all over the equipment .....yuk.

[LandusX]

12:50 PM on 05/02/2012

JUST BEAUTIFUL:)

[Andrea in the City]

10:01 AM on 05/02/2012

She should compete for the Miss France pageant that feeds into Miss Universe. She is gorgeous!!! There was a Miss Tanzania that placed in the Top 10 at Miss Universe that worde minimal makeup and had a shaved head she was out of this world gorgeous!!

[lovelyliberalchick]

02:48 AM on 05/11/2012

She is Flaviana Matata -Tanzanian she work as a model in NYC

[Holly H]

09:25 AM on 05/02/2012

How is she the first Miss Black France?? What was everyone else?

[bkisses]

07:30 AM on 05/02/2012

very beautiful...

[Killjoy]

06:38 AM on 05/02/2012

When will this B.S stop?

[Nutrition Supervisor]

04:37 PM on 05/02/2012

explain

[gsmith9072]

05:16 PM on 05/02/2012

I think I can, obsession with the subjective and superficial outlook of who is beautiful, and honoring stick insects all the time.

[Killjoy]

09:13 AM on 05/03/2012

Why do we continue to pit ppl against each other in these you’re not as pretty as I contest? Really I hate it. Anyone ever wonder what the other contestants feel when they come in like 19th place? The idea that we are judging all these beautiful women to see who is better looking is nauseating, even more disturbing when race is a factor.

[everettmaultsby]

02:00 AM on 05/02/2012

We've come a long way. She's beautiful. DARK Black skin and all!

[liacashmere89]

11:35 PM on 05/01/2012

Good for her. Pretty skin and no weave. That's a change. I wish the U.S would pick a black woman who looked like her but that won't happen in this lifetime

[LeftRightCenter]

07:26 PM on 05/01/2012

simply beautiful & truly brown

[sacmom3]

05:09 PM on 05/01/2012

She is a natural beauty. No clown make-up, no fried hair.

[hoochie-coochie]

03:07 PM on 05/01/2012

Absolutamente hermosa. Viva La Negritud.

[Sistagirl Young]

02:54 PM on 05/01/2012

G'on beautiful black Queen. Dang, I forgot skin could look like that. Right On to the Sista. Life.

[Lechiffre]

04:58 PM on 05/01/2012

She looks fiya .What I like the most is that she is wearing her own crown . No yaki.

[Sistagirl Young]

03:16 PM on 05/02/2012

Hello Lechiffre; How the heck are ya? I commented earlier but for whatever reason it's floating somewhere on the www= world wide whatever. I can't say where it is. I only know where it isn't. But it happens. Yes I commend the Sista. To love that which is you without fear of what others may say is wonderful. It's my view that those who are the most vocal generally are the most sad. But just my opinion. Thank you for commenting. Hope this works. If not I guess I'll just have ta try again. Life.

[nutindere]

01:15 PM on 05/01/2012

hmmm... little or no make up and no weave.....wonderful. Beautiful.