Hinaupoko Devèze, 23, from Papeete, was crowned Miss France 2026 on December 6, 2025 at the Zénith in Amiens, succeeding Angélique Angarni Filopon, Miss Martinique 2025. Representative of Miss TahitiShe stood out among the thirty candidates from across the country, confirming once again the dynamism and elegance of the Pacific ambassadors during the national competition.
A few weeks before his victory, Hinaupoko Devèze had made a notable stop on the tracks of Padel NCas part of a corporate event organized in New Caledonia. A simple, friendly activity, but one that some observers in the padel world are already humorously interpreting as a sign of things to come. Because while preparation for Miss France generally involves rehearsals, interviews, and daily training, no one had yet considered that playing padel could be added to the list.
This sporting anecdote nonetheless highlights the growing popularity of padel throughout the Pacific. The presence of Miss Tahiti on the New Caledonian courts illustrates padel's ability to attract far more than just regular players, becoming a place for meeting, exchanging ideas, and sometimes even creating small, symbolic moments. It's a small step from there to suggesting that handling a racket before the pageant gives a slight advantage, a step some readily take, often with humor.
Miss New Caledonia, also praised for her impressive performance in the competition, further enhances the Pacific region's visibility within the sport. These two territories, where padel is rapidly developing, have gained an unexpected new media spotlight.
In any case, Hinaupoko Devèze's victory marks the beginning of a year of performances, travel, and projects. And if her visit to Padel NC was just a sporting interlude in an already busy schedule, it will remain a pleasant anecdote for Caledonian padel enthusiasts, delighted to have welcomed the future Miss France a few weeks before her coronation.
Credit: PADEL NC
Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.
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