Miss France Marie Payet was warmly welcomed by fans and family when she touched down at Roland Garros Airport in the island of Reunion. Marie who was a runner-up to Delphine Wespiser took the task of representing France at Miss Universe 2012 due to the conflict of schedule with the Miss France pageant. Marie was in tears as she was serenaded and was moved to dance to the traditional beat of the island. As one of the favorites at Miss Universe 2012, Marie landed at the Top 15 and then at Top 10 but failed to advance any further.

Reunion, an overseas French department and is an integral part of the Republic and is also a part of the European Union, competes in some of the Big4 pageants like Miss Earth as a separate entity. At Miss Universe however, French territories, colonies and overseas departments like Guadeloupe, Reunion and Tahiti, do not compete separately instead they can compete at the French nationals.