But as I learned during my exclusive access to the 2024 finals at the Quai de la Liberté in Cap d’Agde, this competition has nothing to do with the objectifying "naked beauty contests" of the 1970s. Instead, it is a celebration of the philosophy of naturism: self-respect, respect for others, and the liberation from body shame.

And as the Mediterranean sun sets over Cap d’Agde, the answer echoes in the applause: I am enough. Philippe Lemaire is a culture writer based in Marseille. This exclusive report was made possible by accreditation from the Fédération Française de Naturisme (FFN).

French law protects this. Simple nudity is not indecent exposure if it occurs in designated zones and without lewd intent. The pageant is licensed by the French Ministry of Youth and Sports as a cultural event, not an adult performance. I posed the blunt question to every organizer and contestant. The answer was universal, rehearsed, and sincere: "Non."

– The air is warm, carrying the scent of salt and sunscreen. A sea breeze rustles the palm trees lining the Mediterranean promenade. On the surface, it looks like any chic French summer gathering. But here, the dress code is strictly unenforced—because there isn’t one.

"I joined because a naturist resort saved my marriage. We learned to see each other again. The pageant is a celebration of that second youth."

"People think they are coming to see a lingerie show," explains Sylvaine Dupont, the long-time director of the France Naturist Federation pageant committee. "They are shocked to find that the criteria have nothing to do with physical measurements. We judge smile, poise, answers to social questions, and how a candidate embodies the values of 'vivre nu' (living nude)." In a conventional pageant, judges look for figure, fitness, and evening gown elegance. In the French nudist pageant, the "gown" round doesn't exist. Instead, the contest unfolds in three unique phases.