“We all make mistakes in life, but I paid dearly for it”: Aïnhoa Lahitete, ex-Miss Aquitaine, breaks the silence

Two weeks after being dismissed, along with Julie Zitouni, Miss Provence, for having insulted other Miss France 2026 candidates in a video, Aïnhoa Lahitete, Miss Aquitaine, spoke for the first time.

To our colleagues from South West, the young 19-year-old Basque said she had “very badly experienced” the violent controversy which followed the publication of a video, where she was seen a few minutes after the announcement of the 12 best candidates for Miss France 2026.

“Sorry, but what is this top 12? “, we can hear Aïnhoa Lahitete say in a video relayed on social networks by the influencer Aqababe. “I don’t want to act angry, but… What is this top 12 please? Hello earth,” she repeats, before Miss Provence, Julie Zitouni, enters the camera’s field and slips: “All big bitches.” “Not all,” Miss Aquitaine immediately continues. But a lot. »

“A big mistake”

“I had the unfortunate idea of ​​taking my phone backstage, in the heat of the moment,” explains Aïnhoa Lahitete, who recognizes “a big mistake” that she “deeply regrets.” But the young woman nevertheless explains that this video, sent by Snapchat, “was intended for a private circle”.

“I was betrayed,” she believes, explaining that the video “was sent to a group of girls who had harassed me in high school and who maliciously transmitted it to a blogger well known for controversies,” she continues, referring to Aqababe.

“To have filmed myself like that was very stupid,” she reacts. But the young woman explains that when she filmed, she and the other girls were “disappointed”: “It’s like a hot reaction after a rugby match. It’s stupid. At the time, we’re angry, but ten minutes later, it’s over. »

“I don’t go out anymore, I’m afraid, I’m ashamed”

After the publication of this video, for which Aïnhoa Lahitete and Julie Zitouni were stripped of their titles by their respective regional committees, the young Basque claims to have suffered “enormous cyberharassment”. “It went as far as death threats on the networks, Tik Tok, Instagram,” she lamented, claiming to have filed a complaint.

“I am young. We all make mistakes in life, but I paid dearly for it. Too expensive. I apologized, I apologize again (…) I was sanctioned. I don’t know what more I can do,” she continued, explaining that she had a “very bad experience”.

“It all turned me off. I don’t go out anymore, I’m afraid, I’m ashamed,” she continued, before adding: “I’m able to talk to you today, because it has subsided a little and I realized that I hadn’t killed someone. »

“I can only blame myself”

Despite this, Aïnhoa Lahitete claims to have received support from “a lot” of the other Misses and the former winner, Angélique Angarni-Filopon. “People may not believe it, but the girls in the class don’t blame me,” she explains, adding: “I had a great adventure, I made lots of friends. »

Despite the controversy, the young Basque does not regret this “incredible experience”. “I loved meeting people (…) The events, the shootings, it was great too. I don’t regret it. I just regret how it ended, but I can only blame myself. »