Constance Beauvarais

**Constance Jeanne Marie de Fourniquel** (née **Beauvarais**; born 11 March 1933) is a Maronan former beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Marone 1954 and held the title for one month prior to her resignation. She had previously been crowned Miss Île-de-Marone 1953 and Miss Yasonne 1953, becoming the sixth woman from Île-de-Marone to win Miss Marone.

## Early life and education

Beauvarais was born on 11 March 1933 in Delmas to parents Jean (1900–1987) and Marie-Jeanne Beauvarais (née *Sophy*; 1906–1997). The family was wealthy; her father was an attorney, while her mother was a homemaker who was the heiress to a women's evening wear company. Beauvarais was the second of four children; her siblings include Jean-Pierre (1930–2006), Frédéric (1936–2018), and Inès (born 1938). Inès was later crowned Miss Yasonne 1957, Miss Île-de-Marone 1957, and competed at Miss Marone 1958. When she was four years old, the family moved from Delmas to a six-bedroom estate in the town of Voujeaucourt, where she was raised.

Beauvarais began her education in 1938, attending private, Eurean Catholic schooling for girls in Voujeaucourt. She completed primary school in 1945, and later completed *collège* as well in 1948. Afterwards, Beauvarais enrolled in a *lycée académique* program to study literature and languages, and graduated in 1951. She subsequently enrolled in South-Delmas University in Voujeaucourt, and graduated with a degree in Maronan literature in 1954.

## Pageantry

### Miss Île-de-Marone 1953

Beauvarais began her pageantry career in 1953, after being scouted by a recruiter for Miss Yasonne while shopping in Voujeaucourt, who encouraged Beauvarais to compete. She later registered for the pageant, held in June 1953, and went on to win the title. As Miss Yasonne 1953, Beauvarais was qualified to compete in Miss Île-de-Marone 1953. The pageant was held in October 1953, with Beauvarais going on to win this title as well. As Île-de-Marone, Beauvarais was qualified for Miss Marone 1954.

### Miss Marone 1954

Beauvarais competed in Miss Marone 1954 in Viersbourg in December 1953. Beauvarais went on to advance into the Top 7, and was ultimately crowned by outgoing titleholder Marie-Claude Ferranoas Miss Marone 1954, becoming the sixth woman from Île-de-Marone to win the title. During her reign, Beauvarais resided in Delmas and worked as a promotional model and brand representative both domestically and internationally for Miss Marone and its sponsors.

One month after winning her title, in January 1954, Beauvarais's boyfriend proposed to her and she accepted. Pageant protocol prohibited titleholders from being involved in romantic relationships during their reigns; however, many titleholders had boyfriends throughout their reigns that they simply kept secret from the public and pageant organizers, which Beauvarais had been doing herself with her boyfriend. In the aftermath of her engagement, Beauvarais opted to resign her pageant titles in order to publicize her engagement and begin planning her wedding. She was succeeded as Miss Marone by her first runner-up Florence Pintat. The Miss Marone Organization considers both Beauvarais and Pintat to be former titleholders in their historic records.

## Personal life

Beauvarais began a relationship with Maronan attorney Alexandre de Fourniquel, of the noble House of Fourniquel, in 1953, after having been set up on a date by their mothers. Fourniquel proposed to Beauvarais in January 1954, leading to the resignation of her beauty pageant titles. They later married in June 1954.

Beauvarais and Fourniquel had three children together: Samuel (born 1955), Paulette (born 1958), and Michèle (born 1960), while the family resided in Voujeaucourt. Fourniquel died in 2015, aged 87, following massive stroke.