The former Miss France and Miss Universe, herself a victim of school bullying in her childhood, launches an appeal on Europe 1, on the occasion of a national day intended to fight against this scourge.
The one who is now a host on TF1 calls on the victims to talk about it, to her directly if necessary, and the parents to be attentive.
INTERVIEW
Miss France, Miss Universe, and now presenter on TF1.
The life of Iris Mittenaere has everything from a fairy tale.
And yet, it was not always so.
As a child, the former beauty queen was indeed the victim of bullying at school.
On the occasion of a national day intended to fight against this scourge, Iris Mittenaere recounts her experience to Europe 1 Thursday morning, and launches an appeal to the victims and their parents.
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"I really encourage people who might find themselves in this position to talk about it"
“Me, it lasted from elementary school to middle school. It was insults, it was beatings. It was mainly directed towards my physique because at the time, I was very skinny and that ' was difficult, ”says Iris Mittenaere, who admits having struggled to talk about it at the time.
"We don't want to talk about it because we don't want to be in this victimized position. It's a bit of a feeling of shame, of injustice and we don't really dare talk about it."
But the ex-Miss France hammers it: we must talk about it, and first of all to those around it.
“I spoke to my mother, who obviously understood and helped me. But it took a long time,” explains the host.
"That's why I really encourage people who might find themselves in this position to talk to someone about it, because it feels so good. Speaking, you realize that you can make a difference. . So we have to do it. "
"If you want to talk, write to me because really, I watch my messages a lot"
Victims must speak up, therefore, but parents must also be careful of their children.
"I would really like to address parents to tell them to open their eyes, to be there for their children and to lend them a listening ear," says Iris Mittinaere.
"I think it's really through them that the children are going to be able to transform this bullying into something that can be positive, into a strength, by having a lot of love, of kindness on their part. They can really make a bulwark. "
Finally, the former Miss invites victims to contact her directly on social networks, which are part of the problem but can also be a solution.
"If you want to talk, write to me because really, I watch my messages a lot," she says.
"I try to be this caring and positive person who can reassure, who can also denounce. Social networks, it brings us a lot of things in these moments when we are all together. But it can be very negative and that can be destructive. "