At the interview, they measured me and I was quickly rejected! I'm Thes than 1m57, their "minimum" height requirement. Today, I'm much happier to be working for a French company that doesn't discriminate on the basis of height!
Can you start by introducing yourself?
My name is Angélique, I'm 27 and I'm 1.54m tall! I'm the last of 4 siblings, so I grew up with three older brothers. I've always been a bit of a tomboy, but still feminine! There are photos of me at the age of 4 in a dress on a motorcycle. Motorcycling has always been a passion of mine, so I quickly got my license, but for practical reasons, I had to part with the dress...
Can you tell us about your background?
After a scientific course to become a physiotherapist, I unfortunately didn't score enough points to get into a school in France. So I went to Belgium to study for a psychomotrician diploma. At the end of my 3 and a half years of training, the diploma was still not recognized by the French state. I found myself stuck without a valid diploma, even though I wanted to return to France. Naturally, my brother suggested that I follow in his footsteps and become a flight attendant. I then had to take the C.C.A. (Cabin Crew Attestation) diploma, and from day one, I knew this was my path.
Can you tell us about your job?
Is it a difficult job to reconcile with family life?
The schedule is always given a month in advance, so everything can be planned. For me, it's all about organization. I have 12 days off a month, whereas someone with a more traditional work pattern only has 8. Depending on the day, I can start early, at 6am for example, but finish at 11.30am, or have days off during the week. Which could be fun with kids! This is already the case with my partner: we travel and enjoy special times out of season. It's a considerable financial advantage to be able to travel outside school vacations.
In any case, it's important to be well surrounded and it's vital that our family and friends understand our different rhythms.
How does being petite affect your job?
My petite size in no way prevents me from doing my job properly. On the other hand, there are certain advantages, such as I never bump into anyone when I bend over to check that belts are correctly fastened, no one asks me to carry their suitcase, and so on. But if you're wondering how I get to the overhead lockers, I'll give you the secret trick: there's always a step on the plane! I try to pass on this information to thepetites" who travel with me, as this step is not just reserved for staff!
The most complicated thing is sometimes dealing with the gaze of others, especially passengers, who may ask us awkward questions. But otherwise, when it comes to my colleagues or other crew members, their teasing is always good-natured and well received!
The minimum height required to be a flight attendant: myth or reality?
I fly for a French airline: Transavia, which I'd been eyeing since the start of my training because of its dynamism and "young" side. I had no problem with the interview, as it's illegal in France to bar access to a profession on the basis of size. Conversely, this is not the case in other countries. My brother advised me to apply for a job with Easy Jet (his airline). At the interview, they measured me and I was quickly rejected! I'm Thes than 1m57 tall, which is their "minimum" height requirement. The airline has minimum and maximum height requirements! Today, I'm much happier to be working for a French company that doesn't discriminate on the basis of height!
Is ecology and travel compatible? What do you think about reducing your air travel?
I must admit I love flying, because I'm always keen to travel far away! When I realize how much time we save too, it's definitely a comfort.
Otherwise, my colleagues and I are aware that we work in a polluting industry. Having recently discussed the matter with each other, we're all keen to make a big effort on the subject. In our day-to-day work, this is reflected in our strict adherence to selective sorting, our preference for using recycled or recyclable paper, our use of organic materials rather than plastic, etc.
I've also noticed some EDITs in my company. Today, we only use recyclable cups, bamboo cutlery and we ask passengers, when distributing coffee, if they really need a spoon before giving it to them. What's more, more and more airports are refusing to collect unsorted rubbish, so we do our utmost!
In any case, I hope that the use of biofuels will develop on a much larger scale in the years to come.
Is wearing a uniform an obstacle to letting your personality shine through?
Wearing a uniform on a daily basis may seem like a constraint, but that's absolutely not the view I share. On the contrary, wearing a uniform has really helped me to find my place and gain confidence. Wearing a uniform means assuming your role. As soon as I put it on, I'm representing my company. It gives me legitimacy. When I put it on, I feel a sense of duty, but also a little pressure: the pressure to do well. In any case, it doesn't hold me back. Our personalities can express themselves even when wearing a uniform!
I take full advantage of my "off" days to dress as I like. And don't worry, girls, I too have weekends in jogging suits and sweaters (though probably a little Thes than someone who has a choice of outfits at work).
Finally, a few questions to get to know you better:
Your latest fashion crush?
Your favorite Petite and So What piece?
My favorite piece is the black Juliette jumpsuit, it's so hard to find a jumpsuit that fits properly when you're petite ! I just love it.
Three things that never leave your handbag?
My phone, a lipstick and a pack of chewing gum (but not the mint kind! More like the Malabar flavor I had when I was a kid).
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Thank you so much for this testimonial! I'm 1m48 lol. Now it's the age that worries me because when I was in high school I was told to give it up and I only recently learned that it was open to petites! :/. I saw max 35 and I'm 32, what company would invest in me... In short, nothing ventured, nothing gained, off to the CCA!