Sophie Thalmann

Sophie Thalmann (born 7 May 1976) is a French TV host and beauty pageant titleholder. She was crowned Miss Lorraine 1997 and Miss France 1998.

Thalmann was born in Bar-le-Duc in the department of Meuse, the daughter of the owner of a driving school and a seamstress. She studied in Nancy and gained a diploma in public relations in the arts and cultural sector. She then studied at the European Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual at the University of Lorraine in Nancy.

In 1996, at the age of 20, Thalmann won the title of Miss Meuse and was runner up in the Miss Lorraine contest. The following year she won the title of Miss Lorraine in Bar-le-Duc, which qualified her to enter the Miss France contest on 13 December 1997. She was crowned Miss France at age 21 in Deauville in front of a TV audience of 15 million.