Bénédicte Heiner

**Bénédicte Brigitte Jeanne-Marie Heiner** (formerly **Wolin**; 22 January 1949 – 30 May 2021) was a Maronan model, socialite, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Marone 1967. She had previously been crowned Miss Ambas 1966, making her the second woman from Ambas to have won Miss Marone.

Heiner became the center of media attention following her on-and-off relationship with Maronan actor and musician Gustave Wolin, beginning in 1967, while reigning as Miss Marone. The media attention led Heiner to be thrust into superstardom, and has gone on to be hailed as a "fashion icon" of 1960s Delmas. Heiner and Wolin married in 1975 and had one child together, before divorcing in 1984.

## Early life and education

Heiner was born on 22 January 1949 in Mostholz to parents Jean-Luc (1921–2008) and Anne Heiner (née *Achenbrener*; 1923–2014). Her father was a *lycée* Maronan literature lecturer, while her mother was a homemaker and church organist. Heiner was raised in a religious Eurean Catholic family, describing her parents as "strict." She was the eldest of four children; her younger siblings included Robertine (born 1952), Jean-Michel (born 1954), and Pierre (born 1956).

Heiner began her education in 1954, attending public schooling. While in school, Heiner has referred to herself as a "rebel," and wished to break away from her conservative upbringing. She completed primary school in 1961, and later graduated *collège* as well in 1964. While in *collège*, Heiner became interested in the world of fashion and beauty, but was discouraged from pursuing it by her parents. She additionally began to become disillusioned with religion by the age of 12, and left the Eurean Catholic church by age 14. Heiner enrolled in a *lycée professionnel* program in Viersbourg to study fashion, and graduated in 1966.

## Pageantry

### Miss Ambas 1966

Heiner began her pageantry career in 1966, after registering to compete in Miss Ambas 1966 in September 1966. She was not initially aware of the competition, and had never heard of Miss Marone, but was scouted by pageant organizers after they visited her *lycée* class in order to scout potential contestants for the competition. Heiner later went on to win the title.

### Miss Marone 1967

As Miss Ambas, Heiner was qualified to compete in Miss Marone 1967. Miss Marone was held in December 1966 in Dax, where Heiner went on to advance into the Top 7, and ultimately was crowned the winner, becoming the second woman from Ambas to be crowned Miss Marone. During her reign, Heiner resided in Delmas and worked as a promotional model and brand representative both domestically and internationally for Miss Marone and its sponsors. As Miss Marone, Heiner represented Marone at Miss Parth 1967 in August 1967, where she placed in the Top 15.

## Personal life

Heiner met Maronan actor and musician Gustave Wolin in May 1967, while attending the premiere for his film *I Love You, 1-2-3* in Delmas as part of her Miss Marone duties. They exchanged contact information, and Wolin took her out on a date the following day, shortly after which they began a relationship. Their relationship was heavily reported on in the Maronan media due to Wolin's star power, and Heiner quickly found herself thrust into the limelight as the girlfriend of an A-list celebrity. The relationship was on-and-off, with Heiner and Wolin reportedly separating four times in 1968, 1970, 1971, and 1973, before becoming engaged in January 1974, on Heiner's 25th birthday. They married that December in a wedding ceremony in Viersbourg held on Christmas Day, which was heavily reported on by the Maronan media.

Heiner and Wolin went on to have one daughter together: Sébastienne (born 1976), who became an actress. The family resided together in Chouilly-sur-Maré in the department of Hauts-de-Maré, outside of Delmas. Heiner later filed for divorce from Wolin in February 1984, and the divorce was finalized later that year. Following their divorce, Sébastienne resided primarily with Heiner, although she remained close with her father and the relationship between Heiner and Wolin was reported to be "amicable." Following the separation, Heiner relocated to a luxury apartment in the 16th arrondissement of Delmas.

Heiner married Munisian-Maronan real estate developer Irsas Farra in 2006, following a three-year relationship. Following the marriage, Farra became the stepfather to Heiner's daughter, while Heiner became the stepmother to Farra's two children from a previous marriage. The family resided together in Delmas, until Heiner's death.

## Death

A lifelong cigarette smoker, Heiner was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2019, credited to her cigarette smoking. While initially opting to begin treatment, Heiner chose to discontinue her cancer treatment in January 2021, and began smoking cigarettes again. She later died of lung cancer-related complications on 30 May 2021, aged 72, while hospitalized at Hôpital Sainte-Catherine in Delmas.