Early Life
Abandoned by her parents soon after birth, she was adopted by H. Eugene Leigh, an American racehorse trainer who raced in the United States, winning the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and in Europe where he owned stables at Maisons Laffitte near Paris, France. Her plaque of remembrance, re-edited to remove 'was murdered at' and replaced with 'died for her country' is mounted to this day on the wall of the Holy Trinity Church in Maisons Laffitte.
She had an early ambition to become a jockey, but after completing her education she worked as a dress designer. In 1927 she went into partnership with two friends to establish a 'grand maison' (fashion house) known as Rose Valoie in the Place Vendôme, Paris.
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