Iris Mittenaere

Iris Mittenaere is a prominent French television host, model, and beauty pageant titleholder who gained international acclaim after being crowned Miss Universe 2016. Born on January 25, 1993, in Lille, France, she became the second contestant from France to ever win the prestigious Miss Universe title, following Christiane Martel in 1953. Prior to her global success, Mittenaere achieved national recognition by winning the titles of Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais 2015 and Miss France 2016. Beyond her pageant honors, she has built a multifaceted career in European broadcast media, fashion, and brand ambassadorship.

Early Life and Education

Mittenaere spent her youth in northern France, attending school in Steenvoorde before pursuing higher education in Lille. She enrolled at the Lille 2 University of Health and Law, where she spent five years studying dental surgery with aspirations of becoming a qualified dental surgeon. Her entry into beauty pageants began during her university studies when she was encouraged to compete in local contests. In May 2015, she was crowned Miss Flandre, which launched her journey to winning Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais later that year and ultimately securing the Miss France crown in December 2015.

Miss Universe Reign and Global Recognition

Representing France at the 65th Miss Universe competition held in Manila, Philippines, in January 2017, Mittenaere won the international crown over contestants from around the world. During her yearlong reign based in New York City, she championed global health initiatives, particularly advocating for oral hygiene awareness and supporting cleft lip surgery charities such as Smile Train. Her reign included global appearances, high-profile red-carpet events, and participation in international fashion shows, cementing her standing as a prominent public figure.

Television and Entertainment Career

Following her reign, Mittenaere transitioned smoothly into mainstream broadcasting and entertainment. In 2018, she joined French network TF1 as a co-host for Ninja Warrior France, bringing on-field reporting and energy to the popular physical competition series. She also competed in season nine of Danse avec les stars, finishing as runner-up. In addition to presenting regular broadcast segments such as EuroMillions drawings, Mittenaere published her autobiography Toujours y croire in 2018 and has starred in cabaret shows in Paris, while collaborating with major global beauty and lifestyle brands.