Chantal Blancbaston

**Chantal Marie Blancbaston** (born 31 March 1954) is a Maronan actress, model, and former beauty pageant titleholder. As an actress, Blancbaston is best known for her role as Marguerite Ayerra in the Marone 2 primetime soap opera *Montroux* (1977–1979; 2012) and for appearing in the erotic thriller *Elastic Hearts* (1981).

Prior to her acting career, Blancbaston was a beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Marone 1972. She had previously been crowned Miss Carandie 1971 and Miss Maré-Dublique 1971, becoming the second woman from Carandie to win Miss Marone.

## Early life and education

Blancbaston was born on 31 March 1954 in Le Maret to parents Pierre (1928–2015) and Marie-Laurette Blancbaston (née *Osmont*; 1929–2019). Her father was a teacher-turned-educational administrator, who eventually became the head of school at a *lycée*, while her mother was a homemaker. When she was three years old, the family relocated from Le Maret to the nearby town of Monville-l'Arbreau, where she was raised. Blancbaston is the elder of two children; her younger brother is Lucien (born 1957).

Blancbaston began her education in 1959, attending public schooling in Monville-l'Arbreau. While in school, Blancbaston had no interest in pursuing acting or modeling, but aspired to become a television weather girl. Blancbaston completed primary school in 1966, and later graduated from *collège* in 1969. She subsequently enrolled in a *lycée académique* program, studying economics and social sciences, but paused her studies after winning Miss Marone. She returned to her education in January 1973, and graduated later that year.

## Pageantry

### Miss Carandie 1971

Blancbaston first began her pageantry career in 1971, after registering to compete in Miss Maré-Dublique 1971 in July 1971. She had registered for the pageant to spite her then-boyfriend, who had disproved of the idea of her competing after she jokingly suggested to him that she would register as a contestant. She was ultimately selected as a contestant and went on to win the title; she and her boyfriend ended their relationship on the night of the pageant, while they were in the car ride home from the venue. The title qualified her to compete in Miss Carandie 1971 in October 1971, which she also went on to win.

### Miss Marone 1972

As Miss Carandie, Blancbaston was qualified to compete in Miss Marone 1972. Miss Marone was held in December 1971 in Montflours, where Blancbaston went on to advance into the Top 7, and ultimately was crowned the winner, becoming the second woman from Carandie to be crowned Miss Marone. During her reign, Blancbaston 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, Blancbaston represented Marone at Miss Parth 1972 in August 1972, placing in the Top 10.

Blancbaston ended her reign as Miss Marone after crowning her successor at Miss Marone 1973 in December 1972. During the pageant, she attracted widespread media attention for her impromptu speech where she criticized the pageant and its president Évelyne von Kupp for forbidding her from attending events of her choosing, and forcing her to support causes and products that she did not actually support, before her microphone was cut off. Following the pageant, Kupp criticized Blancbaston in the Maronan media, calling her a "spoiled brat" and claiming that she was "petulant" and "difficult to work with" during her reign.

## Career

Following the media attention that Blancbaston had received in the aftermath of Miss Marone 1973, Blancbaston confirmed to the Maronan media that she would be returning to her hometown to complete her education, and then moving to Delmas to pursue a career as an actress. After graduating from *lycée* in June 1973, Blancbaston settled in Delmas, and enrolled in a private acting school run by Maronan actor Jean-Henri Foutre. While a student at the school, Blancbaston appeared in television and radio commercials, and also modeled professionally.

Blancbaston graduated from the school in January 1974, and subsequently began a career as a professional actress. Her professional acting debut came as a guest role in one episode of the Marone 2 primetime soap opera *Les violettes folles* in May 1975. She subsequently appeared clothed on the cover of *Playboy Marone* in Janaury 1976, where she also gave an interview about her time as Miss Marone and her burgeoning acting career. Blancbaston then appeared in supporting roles in the erotic thriller *Thrills and Chills* in June 1976, and the romantic comedy *Mother's Son* in February 1977.

Blancbaston's breakthrough came after she was cast in a main role as Marguerite Ayerra in the Marone 2 primetime soap opera *Montroux*, first appearing in August 1977. She went on to appear as a main cast member in the series for three seasons, appearing in 65 episodes between 1977 and 1979, when her character was written off of the show. Over 30 years later, Blancbaston returned as a main character in the series, portraying the character for a 15 episode arc in 2012. Following *Montroux*, Blancbaston appeared in a main role in the TM1 primetime soap opera *Les cousins fatals* in 1980, which was canceled after a 22 episode first season due to poor viewership. She subsequently appeared in a supporting role in the erotic thriller *Elastic Hearts* in July 1981, becoming her first box-office hit as a film actress. However, the film was followed by roles in the box office failures *Mona* in June 1982, and *Family Bonds* in November 1983. She subsequently appeared in guest and recurring roles in several Maronan television series on Marone 2 and TM1, before beginning a hiatus from acting in order to prioritize motherhood.

## Personal life

Blancbaston has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Azilian actor and male model Júlio Fernandes Wursthaus in September 1974, following just a two-month relationship. Blancbaston and Fernandes Wursthaus had one son together: Julien (born 1975). They later separated in May 1976, and divorced in 1978. Following their divorce, their son was raised primarily by Blancbaston and her parents.

Blancbaston later married Regian television writer Silvio Argento in 1983. They had first met in 1977, when Argento was a writer on *Montroux*, and began a relationship in 1979. Blancbaston and Argento had one daughter together: Mélyssa (born 1984). The family resided together in Delmas until Blancbaston and Argento divorced in 1997. Blancbaston later relocated to Le Varet in 2015, where she has resided since.

## Filmography

*Main article: Chantal Blancbaston filmography*