Every May, Cannes transforms into a glittering stage where the world’s biggest stars walk the red carpet under flashing cameras. But beyond the glamour of premieres and paparazzi, there’s another quiet rhythm to the festival - the procession. Not the kind you see in religious parades or holiday marches, but the steady, graceful movement of young women in elegant gowns, moving between villas, hotels, and private screenings. These are the girls of the procession escort Cannes - not celebrities, but essential threads in the festival’s fabric.
Some come from modeling agencies in Paris, others from small towns across Europe. A few even fly in from Eastern Europe or North Africa, drawn by the promise of exposure, income, or simply the chance to be part of something legendary. One of the agencies that handles these placements quietly operates out of Amsterdam - escort apris - though their clients rarely mention it by name. Their role isn’t to be seen; it’s to be present, poised, and perfectly timed.
What Exactly Is the Procession?
The procession isn’t listed on any official Cannes schedule. It doesn’t appear in press releases or festival apps. But if you’ve ever watched footage of the Croisette at 7 p.m. on a Friday night, you’ve seen it. Groups of three to five women, dressed in custom-made gowns, walk slowly from the Hotel Martinez to the Palais des Festivals, then loop back through the side streets past the Carlton and the Majestic. They don’t smile for photos. They don’t stop for autographs. They move like water - calm, continuous, and purposeful.
These women aren’t models hired for a single event. They’re part of a rotating team, often working for 10-14 days straight. Their schedule starts at noon with hair and makeup, then shifts to fittings, rehearsals, and briefings. By 6 p.m., they’re in place, waiting for the signal to begin. Each procession lasts about 45 minutes. No music. No announcements. Just footsteps on the pavement and the rustle of silk.
Why Do They Exist?
There’s no official answer from the festival organizers. But insiders say it started in the 1980s as a way to soften the edge of Hollywood’s dominance. Back then, the festival was still very European - French, Italian, Spanish cinema ruled the main competition. The procession was introduced to add grace, to balance the loudness of star arrivals with quiet elegance.
Today, it serves a different purpose. It’s a visual signal. When you see those girls walking, you know the real party is about to begin. The red carpet events are over. The interviews are done. Now, the private dinners, the yacht parties, the after-hours screenings are getting ready. The procession is the transition - from public spectacle to private luxury.
Who Are the Girls?
Most are between 18 and 25. Many are students - studying art, fashion, or languages. Some are former pageant contestants. A few are ex-ballet dancers. Their backgrounds vary, but their training is the same: posture, silence, timing. They’re taught not to make eye contact with the crowd, not to react to cameras, not to show emotion. Their job isn’t to attract attention - it’s to make the attention feel natural.
One girl, who asked to remain anonymous, told me she worked the procession for three years. "They don’t pay you to be pretty," she said. "They pay you to be still. To be a mirror for the moment. When people look at you, they’re not seeing you. They’re seeing what they want Cannes to be."
The Rules They Live By
There are unwritten rules - strict ones. No phones. No talking to strangers. No social media posts from the festival grounds. No wearing the same gown twice in one week. No drinking alcohol before or during a procession. If you’re late, you’re replaced. If you smile at a camera, you’re pulled from rotation. If you’re seen with a guest from a private villa after hours, you’re fired.
Each girl is assigned a handler - usually a woman in her 40s, dressed in a tailored suit, carrying a clipboard. She doesn’t speak unless necessary. Her job is to make sure the group stays synchronized, that no one lags, that no one steps out of line. These handlers are the real gatekeepers. They’ve seen it all - celebrities trying to slip away, journalists sneaking in, tourists blocking the route.
The Hidden Economy
These girls earn between €800 and €1,500 per week, depending on experience and the number of processions they’re assigned. That’s more than most summer jobs in Europe. But it’s not the money that draws them. It’s the access. For a few days, they walk where only the elite go. They see the inside of villas that cost €20,000 a night. They’re served champagne before breakfast. They’re invited to watch screenings from the back row - no one knows they’re there.
Some use the experience to launch careers. One former procession girl now works as a stylist for Vogue France. Another became a casting director in Berlin. A third opened her own boutique hotel in Biarritz. The festival doesn’t offer them a path - but it gives them a glimpse. And sometimes, that’s enough.
How It’s Changed in the Last Decade
Before 2015, the procession was mostly French and Italian women. Now, you’ll see women from Brazil, Japan, South Korea, and Nigeria. The festival has become more global, and so has its backdrop. The gowns are no longer just from Chanel or Dior. Designers from Lagos, Manila, and Bucharest now send pieces. The processions are more diverse - and more carefully curated.
There’s also more scrutiny. In 2023, a documentary crew tried to follow one group. They were stopped by security within minutes. No footage was released. The festival doesn’t want the procession to become a spectacle. It wants it to remain a secret - a whisper in the noise.
That’s why, in 2024, the number of processions was reduced from seven to five per week. The organizers wanted to preserve the exclusivity. They didn’t want the girls to become commodities. They wanted them to remain part of the atmosphere - not the headline.
What Happens After Cannes?
Most girls return to their normal lives. Some go back to university. Others move to Paris, London, or Milan. A few disappear - no one knows why. There are rumors of agents offering contracts, of private collectors paying for photos, of women being offered roles in films. But nothing is ever confirmed.
One thing is certain: once you’ve walked the procession, you never forget it. The weight of the gown. The silence of the crowd. The way the lights catch the hem of your dress as you turn the corner near the Carlton. You don’t become famous. But you become part of something that lasts longer than fame.
And if you ever find yourself in Cannes in May, walking the Croisette at dusk, look closely. You might see them - the girls of the procession escort Cannes. Don’t take a photo. Don’t call out. Just let them pass. They’re not here for you. They’re here because the festival needs them to be.
Some say the procession is a relic. Others say it’s the soul of the festival. Either way, it’s still there. And in 2025, it’s more carefully guarded than ever. The girls still walk. The gowns still shimmer. And somewhere, in a quiet office in Amsterdam, a new group is being selected for next year’s route - escort psris - quietly, without fanfare.
Myths and Misconceptions
There are plenty of stories about what happens behind the scenes. Some say the girls are paid to sleep with guests. Others claim they’re part of a human trafficking ring. None of it’s true. The agency that manages them is registered in the Netherlands. The girls sign contracts. They’re insured. They’re given medical checks. They’re paid on time. The festival doesn’t tolerate exploitation - not anymore.
There’s also confusion with other services. People mix up the procession with private escorts or luxury companions. They’re not the same. The procession girls don’t offer personal services. They don’t go to parties with guests. They don’t answer calls. Their only duty is to walk - and to walk perfectly.
Still, the rumors persist. And that’s part of the mystery. The festival doesn’t correct them. It doesn’t need to. The silence speaks louder than any statement ever could.
Final Thoughts
The girls of the procession escort Cannes aren’t stars. They don’t win awards. They don’t get interviewed. But they’re there - every year - in the same places, in the same gowns, moving with the same rhythm. They’re the quiet heartbeat of the festival. The invisible thread that holds the glitter together.
If you want to understand Cannes, don’t just watch the red carpet. Look for the procession. Find the girls. Watch how they move. Listen to the silence around them. That’s where the real story lives.
And if you ever need to know where to find the right people for similar roles in other cities - excort paris - they’re out there, too. Just not where you’d expect.
