Sophie Delacroix
 Who's Who of Nouvelle Alexandrie | |
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| Sophie Delacroix | |
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| Full Name | Sophie Marie-Claire Delacroix |
| Parents |
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| Spouse | Philippe Montagne (m. 1698 AN, div. 1712 AN) |
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| Birth Date | 15.IV.1675 AN |
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| Political Affiliation | Independent |
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| City and Region of Residence | Punta Santiago, Alduria |
| National Origin |  Nouvelle Alexandrie
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| Citizenship(s) | Nouvelle Alexandrie
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Sophie Marie-Claire Delacroix (born 15.IV.1675 AN) is a New Alexandrian businesswoman, television personality, and lifestyle expert who founded the Maison Delacroix lifestyle empire. Known as "The First Lady of New Alexandrian Living," she has significantly influenced domestic culture across the Federation through her multimedia presence, product lines, and educational initiatives focused on home arts, cooking, and entertaining. Her television show "L'Art de Vivre" is consistently among the highest-rated lifestyle programs on NAMC, reaching over 12 million viewers weekly.
Early Life and Career
Delacroix was born in Punta Santiago, Alduria to Jean-Paul Delacroix, a prominent restaurateur, and Marie-Anne Beaumont, a professor of Alexandrian literature at the University of Punta Santiago. Her maternal grandfather, Pierre Beaumont, served in the Aldurian Parliament during the early years of the nascent Republic. Growing up in the more affluent quarters of Punta Santiago, she was exposed early to both traditional Aldurian cuisine and entertaining through her father's restaurant empire and her mother's academic social circles.
She attended the prestigious École Culinaire de Punta Santiago, graduating with highest honors in 1693 AN. While studying, she apprenticed at several notable restaurants including her father's flagship establishment, Le Coq d'Or. After graduation, she worked briefly as a caterer before launching a small cooking school from her home in 1695 AN, teaching traditional Aldurian and Wechuan fusion cuisine to upper-class homemakers.
Marriage to Philippe Montagne
Delacroix met Philippe Montagne, heir to the Montagne Industries conglomerate, at a 1697 AN charity gala. Their courtship became a fixture of New Alexandrian society pages, culminating in a lavish wedding in 1698 AN. The union initially proved both personally and professionally advantageous; Montagne's business connections and capital helped Delacroix expand her growing lifestyle enterprise, while her social acumen and creative vision brought fresh energy to Montagne Industries' consumer products division.
The couple welcomed two children: Isabelle (b. 1700 AN), born during the launch of Delacroix's bestselling cookbook, and Louis (b. 1703 AN), whose birth coincided with the couple's ambitious expansion of her catering business into what would become Maison Delacroix. Throughout their marriage, Delacroix skillfully leveraged her husband's extensive business network to secure favorable manufacturing contracts and prime retail locations. Montagne's position on the board of NAMC proved particularly valuable when launching "L'Art de Vivre" in 1708 AN, helping secure a premium time slot and generous production budget. The couple's combined social and business influence made them one of New Alexandria's most prominent power couples until their acrimonious divorce in 1712 AN.
Rise to Prominence
Delacroix's breakthrough came in 1700 AN when she published her first cookbook, "La Cuisine Moderne: Traditional Recipes for the New Alexandrian Home," which spent 52 weeks on the National Bestseller List. The book's success led to a weekly cooking column in The Aldurian newspaper and regular appearances on morning television shows. In 1705 AN, she founded Maison Delacroix, initially a mail-order business selling curated kitchen supplies and home goods. The company expanded rapidly, launching retail locations across major New Alexandrian cities and developing extensive product lines including cookware and kitchen accessories, furniture and home décor, garden supplies and tools, craft and hobby materials, gourmet food products, and educational materials and books.
Her television show "L'Art de Vivre" debuted in 1708 AN on NAMC, revolutionizing lifestyle programming with its sophisticated approach to home arts and entertainment. The show uniquely blends traditional Aldurian, Wechua, and Caputian influences, reflecting New Alexandria's multicultural heritage.
Business Empire
By 1715 AN, Maison Delacroix had grown into a multimedia lifestyle empire valued at over 2.5 billion écu. The company operates 78 retail locations across the Federation and maintains a robust digital commerce platform serving more than 5 million active customers. Its publishing division produces a wide range of books, magazines, and digital content, while strategic licensing partnerships with major manufacturers extend the brand's reach across multiple product categories. The company has established prestigious cooking schools in Punta Santiago, Parap, and Cárdenas, and operates its own television and video production studio in partnership with NAMC. This diversified portfolio has established Maison Delacroix as one of the Federation's most successful lifestyle brands, with influence extending across retail, education, media, and publishing sectors.
Influence and Controversy
Delacroix is credited with modernizing traditional home arts for contemporary New Alexandrian society while preserving cultural heritage. Her emphasis on quality, attention to detail, and celebration of multicultural influences has been particularly influential among upper-middle-class women. However, she faced criticism in 1712 AN when Maison Delacroix was investigated for alleged labor violations at supplier factories in Valencia. While no charges were filed, the company implemented comprehensive supply chain reforms and established the Delacroix Foundation for Worker Education in response.
Divorce from Philippe Montagne
The dissolution of Sophie Delacroix's marriage to business magnate Philippe Montagne in 1712 AN became one of the most closely watched and controversial divorces in New Alexandrian history. The fourteen-year union ended amid allegations of corporate espionage and intellectual property disputes, with Montagne accused of using confidential information to launch competing business ventures through his company, Montagne Industries. The case gained additional notoriety when leaked documents suggested he had secretly funded a rival lifestyle magazine, "Maison Moderne," leading to a separate shareholder lawsuit and federal investigation into potential market manipulation.
The final settlement, sealed by judicial order at the request of both parties, reportedly involved complex arrangements valued at over 3.8 billion écu, including provisions for intellectual property rights, brand usage, and market territories. Despite the acrimony of the proceedings, which The Aldurian dubbed "The War of the Roses and Revenue," Delacroix emerged with her company strengthened; the experience led to improved corporate governance at Maison Delacroix, with the company's stock price doubling in the following five years—a phenomenon financial publications termed "the Delacroix Effect" for situations where corporate performance improves following leadership conflicts.
Political Involvement
Though officially registered as an independent, Delacroix has maintained a complex relationship with Nouvelle Alexandrie's major political parties. Known for her moderate views on economic and social issues, she was a longtime supporter of the Federal Humanist Party, hosting several high-profile fundraisers at her Punta Santiago estate during the 1708 AN to 1718 AN period. However, she publicly shifted her support to the Federal Consensus Party in recent years, indicating she voted for their candidates in both the 1729 AN and 1734 AN general elections, citing the party's "pragmatic approach to business regulation and social progress."
Both major parties have repeatedly courted Delacroix as a potential candidate, attracted by her broad public appeal and business acumen. The Federal Humanist Party approached her about running for the Federal Assembly in 1723 AN, while the Federal Consensus Party sought her as a potential candidate for regional office in 1726 AN. She declined both offers, stating her preference to influence public policy through her business ventures and philanthropic work rather than direct political involvement.
The most serious speculation about Delacroix's political ambitions came in 1734 AN, when widespread rumors suggested she was preparing an independent candidacy for Mayor of Punta Santiago. Local media reported that she had commissioned private polling and assembled a preliminary campaign team, leading to extensive coverage in The Aldurian and other major newspapers. However, despite encouraging poll numbers and significant public interest, Delacroix ultimately decided against entering the race just days before the expected announcement. In a statement, she explained that while she was "deeply honored by the encouragement," her commitment to Maison Delacroix and various charitable initiatives "must take precedence over personal political ambitions at this time."
Personal Life
Delacroix resides in a restored colonial mansion in Punta Santiago's Beauregard Quarter, where she frequently hosts charitable events and films segments for her television show. She maintains close relationships with her two children: Isabelle, who serves as Creative Director at Maison Delacroix, and Louis, a restaurateur. She is known for her extensive collection of antique Alexandrian and Babkhi cookware and rare cookbooks. An avid gardener, she has developed several varieties of roses registered with the New Alexandrian Horticultural Society. Her annual summer garden party is considered a major social event in Punta Santiago society.
