Barbara Michel-Cepriel

**Barbara Madezig Michel-Cepriel** (née **Bégoc**; born 3 September 1947) is a Maronan lawyer, political candidate, and former beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Marone 1970. She had previously been crowned Miss Île-de-Marone 1969 and Miss Delmas 1969, becoming the tenth woman from Île-de-Marone to win Miss Marone.

As a political candidate, Michel-Cepriel stood as a candidate for the Nationalist Movement in Hauts-de-Maré's 5th constituency in the 2014 legislative election, but failed to advance to the second round of voting. She later was a candidate for the Nationalist Movement in the 2016 regional election in Île-de-Marone, but again failed to be elected.

## Early life and education

Michel-Cepriel was born on 3 September 1947 in Tooka, located on the island of Grande-Terre in the then-colony of New Malonia, to parents Theorén (1916–1999) and Margaux Bégoc (née *Picornel*; 1919–2007). Her father was an officer in the Maronan Navy who was originally from Ditrone, while her mother was a homemaker originally from Languedoie. At the time of Michel-Cepriel's birth, the family resided in New Malonia as her father was stationed at the naval base there. Michel-Cepriel is the second of three children; her siblings include Gaël (born 1945) and Marie-Isabelle (born 1950).

Michel-Cepriel was raised in various regions of Marone, including New Malonia, Ditrone, Tahare, and Puyane, and also lived abroad in Vorelles, Lavoria, and Esman, where she attended Maronan international schools. Michel-Cepriel spent her secondary education living in Besantoise, where she attended a private, Eurean Catholic *lycée* for girls. She studied a *lycée académique* program in economics and social sciences, and graduated with honors in 1965. After completing her secondary education, Michel-Cepriel moved to Delmas and enrolled in the City University of Delmas, studying law. She received her bachelor's degree in 1968, and afterwards enrolled in a *prépa* for the ENMg admissions exam. She put her studies on hold in order to reign as a pageant titleholder, but later was admitted to the École nationale de la magistrature in 1972, and graduated with a master's degree in public law in 1974.

## Pageantry

### Miss Île-de-Marone 1969

Michel-Cepriel began her pageantry career in 1969, after registering to compete in Miss Delmas 1969 in June 1969. She was ultimately selected as a contestant and went on to win the title. The title qualified her to compete in Miss Île-de-Marone 1969 in October 1969, which she also went on to win.

### Miss Marone 1970

As Miss Île-de-Marone, Michel-Cepriel was qualified to compete in Miss Marone 1970. Miss Marone was held in December 1969 in Valenême, where Michel-Cepriel went on to advance into the Top 7, and ultimately was crowned the winner, becoming the tenth woman from Île-de-Marone to be crowned Miss Marone. During her reign, Michel-Cepriel 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, Michel-Cepriel represented Marone at Miss Parth 1970 in August 1970, but did not place.

## Political career

After retiring from her legal career in 2009, Michel-Cepriel joined the Nationalist Movement, and began participating in campaign events ahead of the 2009 legislative election. She later was selected as a candidate for the party in Hauts-de-Maré's 5th constituency in the 2014 legislative election, attempting to flip the seat from the Republican Party. However, she went on to place third in the first round of the election, behind incumbent Françoise Martin of the Republican Party and Igor Vesinsky of the Socialist Party, and thus did not advance to the second round of voting.

Michel-Cepriel later continued her political career after she was included on the party's departmental list for Hauts-de-Maré in the 2016 regional election in Île-de-Marone. The party went on to place third in the election, winning 28 seats, but Michel-Cepriel was not elected to the Regional Council. Following her loss in the regional election, Michel-Cepriel opted to retire from politics.

## Personal life

After completing her education in 1974, Michel-Cepriel was hired by the Office of the Prosecutor as an assistant public prosecutor, initially working out of Delmas. While a public prosecutor in Delmas, Michel-Cepriel most often prosecuted violent crimes. She later moved to the department of Hauts-de-Maré in 1989, and began working on white-collar crime cases. Michel-Cepriel retired from her career as a public prosecutor in 2009.

Michel-Cepriel married Maronan lawyer François Michel in 1975, following a two-year relationship. Michel-Cepriel and Michel had two children together: Romane (born 1978) and Alain (born 1981), while the family resided in the town of Figueureux-Châbenay in the department of Hauts-de-Maré. Michel-Cepriel and Michel later divorced in 1995. In 2004, Michel-Cepriel married Maronan lawyer Ludovic Cepriel, following a six-year relationship. Following the marriage, Michel-Cepriel became the stepmother to Cepriel's four children from a prior marriage, while Cepriel became the stepfather to Michel-Cepriel's two children. The family resides in the town of Tirent-Sorbiers in the department of Hauts-de-Maré.