Sophie Habsburg was born in Paris on 19 January 1959, the daughter of Archduke Ferdinand Karl Max of Austria and Countess Helene of Törring-Jettenbach.
She appeared in De Beers and Valentino commercials, as well as on the cover of the first issue of Vogue Spain.
At the same time she also designed jewellery and worked as decorator, radio host and journalist, interviewing royals and actors.
She became friends with Richard Gere after an interview and raised funds with him for the charity SOS Children's Villages.
Habsburg is a second cousin once removed of Queen Sofía of Spain and King Charles III, making Sophie a third cousin of Felipe VI of Spain and William, Prince of Wales.