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.

For the year she reigned as Miss France, Thalmann travelled the country with Geneviève de Fontenay, director of Miss France, and appeared as a guest in a number of television programmes. She participated in the game shows une famille en or on TF1 and Fort Boyard on France 2.

On 12 May 1998, Thalmann represented France at the Miss Universe contest, which took place in Honolulu, but did not make it into the final ten. For the Miss World contest that took place on 26 November 1998 in Mahé, Seychelles, she was replaced by her first runner-up Véronique Caloc, who went on to be first runner-up to Linor Abargil. On 12 July 1998 she appeared at the FIFA World Cup Final at the Stade de France, where France were victorious over Brazil.

Thalmann began her career on television in 1999 with her first season on Téléfoot on TF1. For three seasons she co-hosted the programme alongside Thierry Roland. She then co-hosted other programmes on the same channel such as Y'a pas photo (1999–2000), Les Petits Princes (2000), Combien ça coûte? (2001–2002) with Jean-Pierre Pernaut and Le bêtisier du sport (2001–02).