Anastasie Cahun

**Anastasie Marie Roberte Vernier** (née **Cahun**; 31 January 1919 – 27 December 2006) was a Maronan actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Marone 1937. She had previously been crowned Miss Grône-Fares 1936, and became the first woman from Grône-Fares to win Miss Marone.

After winning Miss Marone, Cahun pursued a career as an actress, appearing in 14 films between 1938 and 1945. She later retired from acting after her marriage in 1945, and pursued a private life as a homemaker.

## Early life and education

Cahun was born on 31 January 1919 in Chafery, a small town in Ennery, to parents Jean-Noël (1881–1949) and Séverine Cahun (née *Schachtler*; 1893–1978). While Jean-Noël was Maronan, Séverine was from Frankenland. Cahun's family owned a dairy farm, where they raised cattle for the production and sale of dairy products such as milk and cheese. Cahun was one of 11 children, including five elder half-siblings who were born to her father and his first wife, who died in 1913. Her siblings include Albert (1903–1981), Jean-Christophe (1905–1939), Richard (1906–1974), Pascaline (1908–1910), Ginette (1912–2009), Aymeric (1916–1948), Vivienne (1920–2009), Frédérique (1922–1991), Thibaut (1924–2014), and Rémi (1926–2004). Her elder brother Aymeric died while fighting in the Rubenian War (1946–1953).

Cahun began her education in 1924, attending public schooling in Chafery. Her parents did not value education, and actively encouraged their children to withdraw from their studies in order to assist at home. Cahun graduated from primary school in 1931, and later completed *collège* as well in 1934. She did not pursue further studies, and began assisting her mother with taking care of the home.

## Miss Marone 1937

In September 1935, Cahun's close friend competed in the Miss Grône-Fares pageant, inspiring Cahun to compete for herself the following year. The pageant was later held in Uzay in September 1936, and Cahun went on to win.

Cahun later competed in Miss Marone 1937 in Delmas in December 1936. Cahun went on to advance into the Top 7, and was ultimately crowned by outgoing titleholder Arzelig Godest as Miss Marone 1937. During her reign, Cahun traveled to more than 30 countries throughout the world as an ambassador of Marone, and additionally worked as a promotional model to promote the products of Henri Pétresse and other sponsors. She completed her reign as Miss Marone the following year, after crowning her successor at Miss Marone 1938.

## Acting career

During her reign as Miss Marone 1937, Cahun had told her parents that after completing her reign, she would return to the family home and continue her prior work assisting her mother. However, after finishing her reign, she opted to instead remain in Delmas and pursue a career as an actress. Cahun made her film debut in the 1938 comedy *And On It Goes!*, portraying a fictional Miss Marone titleholder. She appeared in several other small roles in films through the end of the decade.

Cahun had her biggest role after playing a supporting part in the 1941 comedy *Piña Colada*, although the film was not commercially successful. She appeared in supporting and bit roles in several other comedy films, but begin to experience a career decline in the middle of the decade. Her final role was as a bit part in the 1945 comedy *The Golden Boy*, after which she retired from acting in order to marry and begin a family.

## Personal life

Cahun began a relationship with Maronan financier Cédric Vernier in 1943. After 18 months of dating, they became engaged, and later married in her hometown of Chafery in March 1945. Cahun and Vernier had three children together: Angélique (born 1947), Romaine (born 1950), and Jean-Pierre (born 1952). The family resided in Soilly-sur-Maré, outside of Delmas. Vernier died after suffering a stroke in 2001, aged 85.

## Death

Cahun's condition began to gradually deteriorate following the death of her husband in 2001, and in 2003, her children moved her into an assisted living facility in Soilly-sur-Maré. She later died of natural causes at the facility on 27 December 2006, aged 87, surrounded by family.

## Filmography

*Main article: Anastasie Cahun filmography*