Romane Vansteenkiste

**Romane Héloïse Desmukes** (née **Vansteenkiste**; born 30 June 1989) is a Maronan model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Marone 2014. Vansteenkiste had previously been crowned Miss Flunkerquois 2013 and Miss Nord 2013, becoming the third woman from Nord to be crowned Miss Marone. Vansteenkiste represented Marone at Miss Parth 2014, where she placed in the top twenty.

## Early life and education

Vansteenkiste was born on 30 June 1989 in Flunkirk to parents Xavier (born 1965) and Agnès Vansteenkiste (née *Pereira*; born 1968). Her father was born in Clanders to a Clemish mother and Maronan Clemish father, while her mother was born in Marone to an Escarian family. Vansteenkiste was raised in the town of Boësenback along with an elder brother Daniel (born 1987) and a fraternal twin sister Cécile, being the elder sister by six minutes. The family was middle-class, with Xavier working as a translator, and Agnès working in retail management.

Vansteenkiste began her education in 1994, attending public schooling in Boësenback. She later graduated from primary school in 2001, and completed *collège* in 2004. Vansteenkiste subsequently enrolled in a *lycée académique* in Flunkirk, and completed her program in economics and social sciences in 2007. After graduating, Vansteenkiste completed a *diplôme de technicien supérieur*  (DTS) degree in corporate law at IETS Flunkirk in 2009. She later moved to Dilles to enroll in the University of Dilles, graduating with a bachelor's degree in corporate law in 2010, and a master's degree in international business regulation and arbitration in 2012. After completing her education, Vansteenkiste relocated to Delmas where she worked as a trainee lawyer at an international law firm, practicing general corporate litigation.

## Pageantry

Vansteenkiste began her pageantry career in 2008, after registering to compete in Miss Doon-Plage 2008. She ultimately placed as the first runner-up, and did not qualify for Miss Nord 2008. Vansteenkiste returned to pageantry three years later, competing in Miss Doon-Plage 2011, this time winning the title.

As Miss Doon-Plage 2011, Vansteenkiste was qualified to compete in Miss Nord 2011, and ultimately placed as the second runner-up to Maëva Vanderelst.

### Miss Nord 2013

Vansteenkiste returned to pageantry in 2012, after registering to compete in Miss Flunkerquois 2013. Despite initially believing that she had given up on pageantry, Vansteenkiste opted to compete after being convinced by the pageant organizers due to a lack of applications. The pageant was held in November 2012, with Vansteenkiste going on to win the title, qualifying her for Miss Nord 2013.

Miss Nord was later held in October 2013, where Vansteenkiste advanced into the top five and was later crowned the winner. As Miss Nord, Vansteenkiste was qualified for Miss Marone 2014.

### Miss Marone 2014

Miss Marone was held on 14 December 2013 in Houiseau. In the competition, Vansteenkiste advanced from the initial pool of 30 contestants into the top twelve, and later entered the top five as well. After reaching the top five, Vansteenkiste was declared the winner, being crowned by outgoing titleholder Bella Mignard of Moutarde, becoming the third woman representing Nord to win the title. She additionally scored the highest on the General Knowledge Exam, with a score of 17.

As Miss Marone, Vansteenkiste received tens of thousands of dollars worth of prizes and gifts on behalf of sponsors, and relocated to Delmas in order to fulfill her reign. As Miss Marone, Vansteenkiste appeared as a contestant on the television series *Fort Malet*, worked as a model in various cities, and cohosted a weekly radio show on TM Radio. Vansteenkiste represented Marone at Miss Parth 2014 in November 2014, and placed in the Top 20.

## Personal life

Vansteenkiste began a relationship with Maronan professional tennis player Benoît Desmukes in 2014, after meeting at the 2014 Maronan Open, which Vansteenkiste was attending as a special guest under her Miss Marone title. The Maronan media reported that they had split-up in June 2017, although they later reconciled in January 2018. They became engaged in June 2019, and married the following year.

Vansteenkiste and Desmukes reside together in Yasonne. They have one child together: Daisy (born 2023). Vansteenkiste is fluent in Maronan, Ditrovian, Ardwallian, Escarian, and Spanian.

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