Petra Němcová
Petra Němcová (Czech pronunciation: [ˈpɛtra ˈɲɛmtsovaː]; born 24 June 1979) is a Czech model, television host, and philanthropist who founded the Happy Hearts Fund. In 2017, the Happy Hearts Fund merged with All Hands Volunteers to create All Hands And Hearts - Smart Response, with Němcová assuming the role of co-founder and vice chair.
Petra Němcová
24 June 1979
1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Brown
Hazel
- Jonathan Sanders & Co (Worldwide)
- One Management (New York)
- Marilyn Agency (Paris)
- View Management (Barcelona)
- Place Models (Germany)
- Next Models (Milan)
- Stockholmsgruppen (Stockholm)[1]
Early life[edit]
Němcová was born in Karviná,[2] then Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic, and grew up in Karviná in the Moravian-Silesian Region with her sister Olga.
Career[edit]
Modeling[edit]
Scouted on the streets of Prague by NEXT Model Management, Němcová moved to Milan, Italy, upon signing with the agency. After winning the 1995 Czech Elite Model Look, she returned to Milan where her career flourished.
She has featured in campaigns for Benetton, Bulgari, Cartier, Clarins, Cortefiel, Dirk Bikkembergs, Fortunoff, Graff, Hewlett-Packard/Intel, HS, Intimissimi, John Lewis, Lancaster, La Perla, La Senza, Maidenform, Max Factor, Pantene Pro-V, Passport, Playtex, Rampage, Schwarzkopf, Victoria's Secret, and Wild Orchid.[2] Němcová has appeared on international covers of Harper's Bazaar, Madame Figaro, Elle, Shape, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Flare, Glamour, L'Officiel, and Sports Illustrated.[2]
Němcová has walked for designers including Lolita Lempicka, Gai Mattiolo, Matthew Williamson, Guglielmo Cappone, Marina Babini, Yumi Katsura and Michiko Koshino.[2]
Němcová gained attention outside the fashion industry after featuring on the cover of the 2003 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, from a shoot in Barbados by Walter Iooss. She also appeared in the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 editions.[2] She was the object/subject of Joanne Gair's body painting work.[3] In January 2015 Němcová replaced Abbey Clancy as the face of Ultimo underwear.[4] She also serves as the global face of Chopard.
Television[edit]
In 2001, Němcová appeared on British television series Absolutely Fabulous.[5] On 3 June 2004, she was one of the telecast judges during the 53rd annual Miss Universe competition in Quito, Ecuador. In 2007, she was the host of TLC's A Model Life. On 7 July 2007, she was a presenter at the American leg of Live Earth.[2] Němcová was a contestant on season 12 of Dancing with the Stars with dance partner Dmitry Chaplin, reaching the 4th week before being eliminated.[6][7]
In 2005, Němcová published her autobiography Love Always, Petra (ISBN 0446579130).
In the 2008 TV special, A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa, muppet lab assistant Beaker tests a wish machine and causes Němcová to appear.[8]
2004 Boxing Day tsunami[edit]
On 26 December 2004, Němcová was in Khao Lak, Thailand, with her main photographer and boyfriend, Simon Atlee, when the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami struck.[9] Atlee drowned and Němcová suffered a broken pelvis and serious internal injuries, but she managed to hold on to a palm tree for eight hours until she was rescued by Thai civilians and airlifted to an inland hospital nearby.[10]