Jeanne Lucille Koninck

**Jeanne Lucille Tuča-Tevahitua** (née **Koninck**; formerly **Wauters**; 11 February 1939 – 8 September 2006) was a Maronan beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Marone 1962 and held the title for six days prior to her dethronement. She had previously been crowned Miss Île-de-Marone 1961 and Miss Delmas 1961, becoming the eighth woman from Île-de-Marone to win Miss Marone.

Five days following her crowning, *Le Républicain Dillois* reported through an anonymous tip that Koninck was a divorcée and the mother of a five-year-old son, contrary to pageant rules. The following day, it was announced that Koninck had been stripped of her titles by the Miss Marone Committee after they confirmed the allegations, and she was replaced as Miss Marone 1962 by her first runner-up Lydie Forrester. Koninck later confirmed that she was indeed previously married between 1955 and 1958, and the teenage mother of a young son; she claimed that she had lied to pageant organizers as she was no longer married and not the primary caretaker of her child, so she believed that the rules would not apply to her.

## Early life and education

Koninck was born on 11 February 1939 in Olmen-Loripette, located in the department of Grand-Nord, to parents François (1900–1971) and Antoinette Koninck (née *Lucie*; 1903–1989). The family was working-class of Maronan Clemish origin, with her father being a coal miner and her mother a garment industry worker. Koninck was the youngest of five children; her elder siblings included Marie (1923–2009), Clothilde (1926–1955), Jacques (1929–1994), and Louis-Thomas (1930–2018). Her elder sister Clothilde died in 1955, aged 28, during childbirth, which had a significant impact on Koninck and her thoughts on motherhood.

Koninck began her education in 1944, attending public schooling in Olmen-Loripette. While in school, Koninck was said to be a troublesome student who struggled with academics and suffered from behavioral issues. After graduating from primary school in 1951, Koninck completed *collège* in 1955, after having to repeat one year due to failing grades. Koninck subsequently chose not to pursue *lycée* due to her pregnancy and marriage. In 1957, aged 18, Koninck relocated to Delmas in order to work as a dancer and entertainer.

## Pageantry

### Miss Île-de-Marone 1961

Koninck began her pageantry career in 1961, after registering to compete in Miss Delmas 1961 in June 1961. She registered for the pageant after having been recruited by a pageant organizer who attended a show where Koninck was a featured dancer. She ultimately went on to win the title, which qualified her to compete in Miss Île-de-Marone 1961 in September 1961, which she also won.

### Miss Marone 1962

As Miss Île-de-Marone, Koninck was qualified to compete in Miss Marone 1962. Her participation in Miss Marone was controversial from the start, with some alleging that Koninck should have been disqualified from the competition due to her work as a dancer and showgirl; however, she was not disqualified and Emeric Gatos personally came to her defense, claiming that Koninck had sworn that she never danced partially or completely nude, and that clothed dancing was not contrary to pageant rules when for a traditional artistic purpose like cabaret. Miss Marone was held in December 1961 in Chassonne, where Koninck went on to advance into the Top 7, and ultimately was crowned the winner, becoming the eighth woman from Île-de-Marone to be crowned Miss Marone.

Five days after winning her title, *Le Républicain Dillois* reported through an anonymous tip that Koninck was a divorcée and the mother of a five-year-old son, contrary to pageant rules. The following day, it was officially confirmed by the Miss Marone Committee that the allegations had been substantiated, and Koninck would be stripped of her titles for breaching pageant rules. In an interview with *Le Républicain Dillois*, Koninck admitted that she had fallen pregnant by her boyfriend at the age of 16, and married him soon after discovering the pregnancy. She gave birth to a son in January 1956, who was later completely raised by her sister and brother-in-law after Koninck relocated to Delmas in June 1957, and that she only visited him occasionally. Koninck and her husband had separated earlier in May 1957, and their divorce was finalized by June 1958. She claimed that she had lied to pageant organizers as she was no longer married and not the primary caretaker of her child, so she believed that the rules would not apply to her. In the aftermath of the interview, Koninck was dubbed "the most hated woman of Marone" by the Maronan press.

Koninck was succeeded as Miss Marone by her first runner-up Lydie Forrester. In their official records, the Miss Marone Organization does not consider Koninck to be a proper Miss Marone titleholder due to her dethronement and rule violations.

## Personal life

Koninck had been married three times in her life: her first marriage was to schoolboy Henri Wauters in 1955, following a short relationship of just six months. Koninck was 16 years old and Wauters was 17 years old at the time of their marriage, and they married solely after discovering that Koninck had fallen pregnant. Their son, Guillaume (born 1956), was raised entirely by Koninck's sister Marie and her brother-in-law along with their own children. Koninck only had sporadic interactions with him and the rest of her family after relocating to Delmas in June 1957, and her son was later legally adopted by her sister and brother-in-law by 1962. Koninck and Wauters separated in May 1957, after just two years of marriage, and their divorce was finalized by June 1958.

Koninck married Lemurian entertainment manager Marguts Tučs in 1970, following an eight-month relationship; Tučs had served as Koninck's manager for the previous two years prior to their marriage. Koninck and Tučs's marriage was tense, with both suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction for the marriage's duration. They had one daughter together: Noëlle (born 1976), before divorcing in 1982. Tučs died of a cocaine overdose just two years after their divorce, aged 57. While on vacation in Wahiti in 1988, Koninck met New Malonian restaurant manager Sébastien Tevahitua, and relocated to New Malonia to begin a relationship with him. They later married in 1990, and began residing together in Pont-des-Maronais. Following the marriage, Koninck became the stepmother to Tevahitua's two children from a previous marriage, and Tevahitua became the stepfather to Koninck's daughter with Tučs.

Outside of pageantry, Koninck was a dancer and showgirl at Delmas cabaret houses. She began her dancing career in 1957, after first relocating to Delmas from Nord, and retired from dancing in 1988. Following her retirement, Koninck opened a flower shop in Pont-des-Maronais, which she owned and operated until her death.

## Death

In 2002, Koninck was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, with doctors believing the condition was brought on due to Koninck's years of alcoholism. After struggling to find a compatible liver donor, Koninck's condition began to deteriorate. In August 2006, she opted to enter hospice care and end her treatments for the disease. Koninck later died of complications relating to liver cirrhosis at her home in Pont-des-Maronais on 8 September 2006, aged 67.