She was the sister of Vera de Sá Sottomaior, who was married to John Felix Charles "Ivor" Bryce, Randal Plunkett, 19th Baron of Dunsany, and Sir Walter Frederic Pretyman.

She was born in Castro, Paraná, as the daughter of school teachers Genésio de Sá Sotomayor and Julieta Sampaio Quentel.

In the 1930s, she moved to Rio de Janeiro, where she married Luís Simões Lopes, chief of staff of President Getúlio Vargas.

As a fashionista Aimée met people from European society including Victor Sassoon and Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster.

Hung with diamonds, she was pushed from fittings to balls, never allowed a moment for private conquest because every hostess needed her for her party to prove that she could draw the lioness of the season.

The couple had homes in Paris, New York City, Palm Beach, Florida, and Biarritz, but as members of the jet set never stayed in one location for very long.