Miss France split over saucy pics

Miss France Committee president Geneviève de Fontenay plans to start her own contest to rival Miss France

MISS France Committee president Geneviève de Fontenay plans to start her own contest to rival Miss France - claiming the current producers have degraded the pageant’s values.

Ms de Fontenay, who organises the regional heats, said a nude photo scandal over Miss Paris, who then appeared on a reality show filmed by Miss France producers Endemol, was the last straw.

It follows a 2008 row when winner Valérie Bègue was allowed to keep her crown despite revelations she took part in a “sexual and blasphemous” photoshoot, where she licked yoghurt off man’s chest and posed on a crucifix.

Endemol which has televised the final since 2002, say Ms de Fontenay’s contract bans her from starting a rival show.