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15/12/2017
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Xochitl Pena, The Desert Sun Published 2:38 p.m. PT Dec. 15, 2017
The French typically don’t celebrate Thanksgiving for obvious reasons – it’s an American holiday.
But for 30 young French women competing in the Miss France pageant, they got to partake in a Thanksgiving dinner at La Quinta Resort and Club and traverse the Coachella Valley all the while being filmed.
That footage will be part of the Miss France pageant which airs Saturday on TF1, the national French TV channel. If local folks are interested, they can catch the replay on Sunday at www.tf1.fr which also has a series of short videos chronicling their visit to the desert and other Southern California locales.
The contestant’s trip to the desert Nov. 19-24 was organized by the Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau in partnership with Visit California.
Miss France contestants visited the Coachella Valley over the 2017 Thanksgiving holiday. (Photo: Courtesy photo.)
“The contestants did not know California and it was their first time in our Golden State. The idea they had from GPS (Greater Palm Springs) was mainly driven by the Coachella Music Festival. They couldn't imagine how diverse and unexpected the experience in the desert can be....They were thrilled every single minute they spend here, and amazed by the welcome of the community of Greater Palm Springs,” said Murielle Nouchy, who represents Visit California in France.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is held in Indio over two weekends in April and does attract of slew of international music fans and celebrities.
While in town, the contestants stayed at the La Quinta Resort and Club where they shared a holiday meal and also had photo shoots in swimwear and while playing tennis.
Miss France contestants visited the Coachella Valley over the 2017 Thanksgiving holiday. Here they having a photo shoot at the Saguaro in Palm Springs. (Photo: Courtesy photo.)
They also had to stick to a very detailed itinerary that highlighted all the local tourist attractions and gave them a taste for American pastimes like line-dancing and a BBQ.
Nouchy said the ladies had to get up at 5 a.m. most mornings for make-up, wardrobe and hair before heading off on their various photo and video shoots.
On their first full day, the contestants got to ride a hot air balloon courtesy of Fantasy Balloon Flights, take a ride in classic cars and float on pink flamingo floaties and pose around the pool at The Saguaro.
Other days were spent at Joshua Tree National Park, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and taking a Jeep Tour to the San Andreas Fault with Desert Adventures.
Miss France contestants visited the Coachella Valley over the 2017 Thanksgiving holiday. Here they are learning to line-dance at the Regency Ranch in Rancho Mirage. (Photo: Courtesy photo.)
They also had a barbecue at Regency Ranch in Rancho Mirage where they got to line dance and were served up a meal that included St. Louis ribs, barbecue chicken, potato salad, baked beans and mac & cheese.
Nouchy said the Palm Springs area is “very popular for the French in summertime” and because of its great weather, thought it would be ideal for various swimsuit shoots.
“I can tell you that the pageants, the production team (EndemolShine) and Miss France Organization will never forget Greater Palm Springs,” she said.
Have something for the column? Contact Xochitl Peña, Vibe & Style Columnist at The Desert Sun, at xochitl.pena@thedesertsun.com or at (760) 778-4647
Miss France contestants visited the Coachella Valley over the 2017 Thanksgiving holiday. Here they are involved in a photo shoot at the La Quinta Resort and Club. (Photo: Courtesy photo.)
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