The catwalk show where curves are IN: France's plus-size beauty queen is crowned in Paris as the Haute Couture fashion circus arrives in town

PUBLISHED: 19:04, 21 January 2013 | UPDATED: 19:27, 21 January 2013

While rail thin models stalk the catwalks of Paris for global fashion brands such as Dior and Versace elsewhere in France a very different kind of runway show has been taking place.

The Miss Ronde pageant is also dedicated to women and beauty, but the 26 models taking part in this style spectacle are a very different breed of female.

These voluptous French women are all competing to be crowned queen of La Ronde (literally trabslated as 'the round') - the country's only plus-size beauty contest.

Brunette Julia Castelli took home the Miss Ronde beauty crown today in Paris

The competition began life online in 2007.

Calais pychotherapist Thierry Frezard wanted to create something to help his plus-size wife appreciate that she was beautiful and so started an online beauty contest to highlight how glorious curves can be.

In 2010 it moved offline and came to life as women came together to compete for the title in runway shows, united in the desire to be recognised as women and not just as plus-size.

Today a jury of eight people decide between the contestants after listening to three speeches about their life, work and motivation, as well as watching them in a variety of outfits on the catwalk.

Miss Ronde is a French beauty pageant for curvy woman

A jury of eight people decide between the 26 contestants after speeches and a catwalk show

A jury of eight people decide between the 26 contestants after speeches and various catwalk shows

According to the competition's website: 'The key word of this joint action is tolerance because being round should not be synonymous with rejection, denigration, abnormality, or guilt.

The Miss Ronde Committee is convinced that with the charm, wit, and beauty of curvy women of France as well as the will, perseverance and commitment of the Regional Committees, the will finally make it past this message.'

The 2013 event in Calais is the 6th annual competition and the crown was taken home by Julia Castelli.

This is the competition's sixth annual pageant

The competition's sixth annual pageant was held in Paris

ELSEWHERE IN PARIS ... HAUTE COUTURE FASHION WEEK HAS ARRIVED

We have heard of flat caps but this is ridiculous! Menswear designer Thom Browne was one of the first designers to show in the city and he sent models down the runway with bizarre square hats and seriously sharp suits.

Iris Van Herpen also favoured sharp lines, but looked to the future for inspiration for her metallic creations.

And the Atelier Versace design house stuck to what it knew best: high octane glamour, a bright colour palette and lots of flesh flashed to the front row.