Petra Němcová: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:19, 30 December 2004

Latest revision as of 21:45, 18 August 2025

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{{Short description|Czech model, television host, and philanthropist}}

{{wrongtitle|title=Petra Němcová}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}

{{Infobox model

| name = Petra Němcová

| image = Petra Nemcova Cannes 2018 2.jpg

| caption = Němcová in 2018

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|6|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = [[Karviná]], [[Czechoslovakia]] (now Czech Republic)

| height = {{height|m=1.78}}

| haircolour = Brown

| eyecolour = Hazel

| spouse = {{marriage|Benjamin Larretche|2019}}

| children = 1

| agency = {{Plainlist|

* Jonathan Sanders & Co (Worldwide)

* One Management (New York, Los Angeles)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://onemanagement.com/New-York/Women/Image/PETRA-NEMCOVA/Portfolio | title=PETRA NEMCOVA &#124; New York &#124; Women &#124; ONE Management }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://onemanagement.com/Los-Angeles/Women/Main/PETRA-NEMCOVA/Portfolio | title=PETRA NEMCOVA &#124; Los Angeles &#124; Women &#124; ONE Management }}</ref>

* Marilyn Agency (Paris)

* View Management (Barcelona)

* Place Models (Germany)

* Next Models (Milan)

* Stockholmsgruppen (Stockholm)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://models.com/models/Petra-Nemcova|title=Petra Nemcova - Model}}</ref> }}

}}

'''Petra Němcová''' ({{IPA|cs|ˈpɛtra ˈɲɛmtsovaː}}; born 24 June 1979) is a Czech [[fashion model|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.

==Early life==

[[Image:Petra_Nemcova.jpg|thumb|right|Petra Nemcova]]

Němcová was born in [[Karviná]],<ref name="FMDir">{{cite web|url=http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/models/Petra_Nemcova/|title=Petra Nemcova|work=The FMD - FashionModelDirectory.com}}</ref> then [[Czechoslovakia]], now the [[Czech Republic]], in the [[Moravian-Silesian Region]].

'''Petra N&#283;mcová''' (born [[May 29]], [[1981]] in [[Karviná]]) is a [[Czech Republic|Czech]]-born female [[supermodel]]. She was featured on the cover of the [[2003]] [[Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue]] and also modeled for [[Victoria's Secret]].

==Career==

Her big break happened when a fashion scout - often the way these things happen - discovered her in in Karvina.

===Modeling===

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 Group|Benetton]], [[Bulgari]], [[Cartier (jeweler)|Cartier]], [[Clarins]], Cortefiel, Dirk Bikkembergs, Fortunoff, Graff, [[Hewlett-Packard]]/[[Intel]], HS, [[Intimissimi]], [[John Lewis (department store)|John Lewis]], Lancaster, [[La Perla (lingerie brand)|La Perla]], [[La Senza]], Maidenform, [[Max Factor]], Pantene Pro-V, Passport, [[Playtex]], Rampage, [[Hans Schwarzkopf GmbH|Schwarzkopf]], [[Victoria's Secret]], and Wild Orchid.<ref name=FMDir/> Němcová has appeared on international covers of ''[[Harper's Bazaar]]'', ''[[Madame Figaro]]'', ''[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]'', ''Shape'', ''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]'', ''[[Marie Claire]]'', ''[[Flare (magazine)|Flare]]'', ''[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]]'', ''[[L'Officiel]]'', and ''Sports Illustrated''.<ref name=FMDir/>

In 1999 she got her first TV gig on an American talk-back show in the vein of David Letterman. Called the "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" the smitten host declared his love for her and even went so far as to predict that she'd be in Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Edition by 2003. Not a bad guess...

Němcová has walked for designers including [[Lolita Lempicka]], [[Gai Mattiolo]], [[Matthew Williamson]], Guglielmo Cappone, Marina Babini, Yumi Katsura and [[Michiko Koshino]].<ref name="FMDir"/>

In 2001, she starred in the French comedy flick, Absolument fabuleux. If your French is up to scratch, you'll know that the title translates to Absolutely Fabulous, or maybe you just guessed?

Němcová gained attention outside the fashion industry after featuring on the cover of the 2003 [[Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue|''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit Issue]], from a shoot in [[Barbados]] by [[Walter Iooss]]. She also appeared in the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 editions.<ref name="FMDir"/> She was the object/subject of [[Joanne Gair]]'s [[body painting]] work.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/swimsuit/collection/issues/2004/04_pnemcova_08_bycategory.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050524011601/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/swimsuit/collection/issues/2004/04_pnemcova_08_bycategory.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 May 2005|title=SI Swimsuit Collection: Petra Nemcova|access-date=18 February 2008|publisher=[[Time Inc.]]}}</ref> In January 2015 Němcová replaced [[Abbey Clancy]] as the face of Ultimo underwear.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/swim-daily/2015/01/26/petra-nemcova-for-ultimo-photos-and-more-news|title=Petra Nemcova for Ultimo photos are out, and more news|author=Ultimo|work=SI.com|date=26 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924164345/https://www.si.com/swim-daily/2015/01/26/petra-nemcova-for-ultimo-photos-and-more-news|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> She also serves as the global face of [[Chopard]].

Either way, it is a 105 minute French remake of the seminal British comedy series and, while not critically acclaimed, it is said to be very similar to its precursor, providing plenty of belly laughs.

===Television===

Does this mean Petra will be doing more TV and movie parts in future? Bet your car on it!

In 2001, Němcová appeared on British television series ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zena.aktualne.cz/celebrity/prezila-tsunami-nyni-pomaha-obetem-katastrof-slavna-ceska-z/r~df6459b8b53f11eab0f60cc47ab5f122/v~sl:3cd99654833bfb0e72b996e565e6d418/|title=Přežila tsunami, češtinu zapomíná. Slavná Češka z Karviné Petra Němcová slaví 45 let|language=cs|work=aktualne.cz|date=2024|access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref> On 3 June 2004, she was one of the telecast judges during the fifty-third 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 [[Live Earth concert, New York City|American leg]] of [[Live Earth]].<ref name="FMDir"/> Němcová was a contestant on [[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 12)|season 12]] of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]'' with dance partner [[Dmitry Chaplin]], reaching the fourth week before being eliminated.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dancing-with-the-stars-pairs-revealed/ | work=CBS News | first=Jessica | last=Derschowitz | title="Dancing with the Stars" pairs revealed | date=2 March 2011|access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/dancing-with-stars-twelfth-season-partner-pairings-announced-12037.php|title='Dancing with the Stars' twelfth-season partner pairings announced|work=Reality TV World|date=2 March 2011|access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref>

In 2005, Němcová published her autobiography ''Love Always, Petra'' ({{ISBN|0446579130}}).

More recently, Petra Nemcova has, as mentioned earlier, starred in the 2002 Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated, a magazine read by perhaps more American males than any other. Quite a scary thought, really...

In the 2008 [[TV special]], ''[[A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa]]'', muppet lab assistant [[Beaker (Muppet)|Beaker]] tests a wish machine and causes Němcová to appear.<ref>William D. Crump, ''The Christmas Encyclopedia, 3d ed.'' (2013), p. 300.</ref>

But once a model has made SI, their future is almost guaranteed.

==2004 Boxing Day tsunami==

Petra is currently signed with Next Modeling Agency and has contracts with the likes of Max Factor and Cartier.

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/11303121/2004-Tsunami-Petra-Nemcova-the-supermodel-who-survived-the-Boxing-Day-tragedy.html|title=2004 Tsunami: Petra Nemcova, the supermodel who survived the Boxing Day tragedy|first=Philip|last=Sherwell|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=26 December 2014|access-date=11 June 2015}}.</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nemcova hospitalized with hip, internal injuries |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=1954697 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=29 December 2004 |access-date=31 December 2008 }}</ref>

==Philanthropy==

She has also had good coverage in Harper's Bazaar, Elle and other fashion mags.

Němcová served on the advisory board of ''[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]]'''s Women of the Year Fund.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leadersmag.com/issues/2013.1_Jan/Women%20Leaders/LEADERS-Petra-Nemcova-Happy-Hearts-Fund.html|title=Creating Happy Hearts|work=leadersmag.com|date=2013|access-date=4 June 2025}}</ref>

Her autobiography, ''Love Always, Petra,'' was released in 2005 from which 100% of the profits were donated towards helping children affected both by the 2004 tsunami in Thailand and ongoing natural disasters worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.petra-nemcova.com/-philantropist|title=petra-nemcova|website=petra-nemcova|language=ru|access-date=2018-06-06}}</ref>

But what's next for the tall European femme? More modeling, a new movie career - maybe she even has a hidden musical talent? Jay-Lo watch out!

===Happy Hearts Fund===

One thing's for sure though, if the response to her spread in the 2002 SI: Swimsuit Edition is anything to go by, this is one model you'll really have to Czech out.

In 2005, Němcová founded the Happy Hearts Fund (HHF), a charitable organization and campaign formed after the tsunami of 2004.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/petra-nemcova/restoring-the-lives-of-ch_b_399537.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Petra | last=Nemcova | title=Restoring the Lives of Children After Natural Disasters: How You Can Bring Happiness Back | date=18 March 2010 |access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref>

The main mission of Happy Hearts Fund has been to rebuild and renew schools affected by natural disasters. As a result of programmes run by the Happy Hearts Fund, 176 schools have been rebuilt world-wide in 10 countries including [[Thailand]], [[Indonesia]], [[Haiti]], [[Nepal]], [[Peru]], [[Mexico]] and [[Philippines|The Philippines]]. Němcová has been heavily involved on a day-to-day basis since establishing the Happy Hearts Fund, helping to establish long term strategies, as well as outlining the vision which has led to the organisations long term success. Her personal experience during the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Boxing Day Tsunami]] gave her a deep understanding of the power of Mother Nature, allowing her to connect with those in need, bolstering the success of her work through the organisation. In late 2017, the Happy Hearts Fund merged with fellow non-profit organisation [[All Hands Volunteers]] to create [[All Hands Volunteers|All Hands And Hearts - Smart Response]]. As a result, Němcová now acts as co-founder and vice chair of All Hands And Hearts alongside All Hands Volunteers founder [[David N. Campbell|David Campbell]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://happyheartsfund.org/world-impact/|title=World Impact - Happy Hearts Fund (HHF)|website=happyheartsfund.org|access-date=2018-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613020554/http://happyheartsfund.org/world-impact/|archive-date=2018-06-13}}</ref>

===All Hands And Hearts - Smart Response===

On June 3, 2004, she was one of the telecast judges during the 53rd annual [[Miss Universe]] competition in [[Quito]], [[Ecuador]].

Němcová is co-founder and vice chair of [[All Hands Volunteers|All Hands And Hearts - Smart Response]] (AHAH), a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing fast and effective support to communities hit by natural disasters worldwide. Němcová has spoken about the importance of connecting with and understanding the needs of those in need of hope, empowerment and immediate aid, stating that, "We cannot control nature, but we can control that actions that we take."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hands.org/team/petra-nemcova-copy/|title=Petra Nemcova {{!}} All Hands|work=All Hands|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613014656/https://www.hands.org/team/petra-nemcova-copy/|archive-date=13 June 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Petra Nemcova 2012 Shankbone.JPG|thumb|Němcová in 2012.]]

== Indian Ocean earthquake ==

===Accolades===

During the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]], Petra was at the [[Khao Lak]] resort in [[Thailand]] with her photographer boyfriend, [[Simon Atlee]] when a [[tsunami]] struck where they were staying.

''[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]]'' magazine awarded Němcová a "Survivor Award" in 2005 for her charity work following her tsunami ordeal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/glamour-honors-12/|title=Glamour Honors 12|work=[[CBS News]]|date=7 November 2005|access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref>

In June 2012, she was designated by president of Haiti [[Michel Martelly]] and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe as Ambassador-at-Large for Haiti for her work with Happy Hearts Fund.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/model-petra-nemcovas-charity-work-in-haiti-honoured-7844905.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/model-petra-nemcovas-charity-work-in-haiti-honoured-7844905.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Model Petra Nemcova's charity work in Haiti honoured|date=13 June 2012|work=The Independent}}</ref>

She suffered a broken [[pelvis]] and serious internal injuries, but managed to hold onto the top of a [[palm tree]], reportedly for eight hours, until she was rescued and airlifted to an island hospital nearby. Unfortunately, Atlee remains missing.

In 2017, Petra was appointed by the [[United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction|UNISDR]] as a Disaster Risk Reduction Champion and Tsunami Awareness Advocate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unisdr.org/archive/55742|title=UN Appoints Tsunami Survivor as Global Advocate - UNISDR|website=www.unisdr.org|date=2 November 2017 |access-date=2018-06-06}}</ref>

== Quotes ==

==Personal life==

'''In General''':

Němcová has a sister, Olga, who also worked for the Happy Hearts Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-02 |title=Petra Němcová: Kočka s andělem v těle |url=https://www.e15.cz/magazin/petra-nemcova-kocka-s-andelem-v-tele-1081278 |access-date=2025-06-04 |language=cs |first=Hana |last=de Goeij |work=[[E15 (newspaper)|e15]]}}</ref> She has been a [[vegan]] since 2007 and has paid close attention to life in the world's [[ocean]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-08-03 |title=Petra Nemcova is speaking out against overfishing |url=http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/celebrities/hollywood/petra-nemcova-goes-vegan-for-the-fish-201498/#blog |access-date=2023-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803060725/http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/celebrities/hollywood/petra-nemcova-goes-vegan-for-the-fish-201498/#blog |archive-date=3 August 2009 }}</ref>

She was briefly engaged to English actor [[Jamie Belman]] before the couple ended their relationship in 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20585983,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413160958/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20585983,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 April 2012|title=Petra Nemcova and Jamie Belman Call Off Engagement|first1=Charlotte|last1=Triggs|first2=Liz|last2=Raftery|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=11 April 2012|access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref>

"I love to dance. I can dance for, like, four or five hours nonstop without even drinking water. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing."

In May 2014, Němcová told ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' that she was dating the [[Prime Minister of Haiti]], [[Laurent Lamothe]].<ref>{{cite news|title= Petra Nemcova: I'm 'Very Happy' Dating Laurent Lamothe|url=http://www.people.com/article/petra-nemcova-dating-laurent-lamothe|first=Linda|last=Marx|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=6 May 2014|access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref> but as of 2015 they were no longer together.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sontag|first1=Deborah|title=An Award for Bill Clinton Came With $500,000 for His Foundation|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/us/politics/an-award-for-bill-clinton-came-with-500000-for-his-foundation.html?referrer=&_r=0|access-date=31 May 2015|work=Newspaper|publisher=The New York Times|date=29 May 2015}}</ref> In 2017, she became engaged to investment banker Alejandro Grimaldi before the pair called off their engagement in December 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://everything-pr.com/statement-from-petra-nemcova-and-alejandro-grimaldi/|title = Statement from Petra Nemcova and Alejandro Grimaldi|work=everything-pr.com|date=30 December 2018|access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref>

'''About the Tsunami''':

In 2019, Němcová married entrepreneur Benjamin Larretche in [[Sedona, Arizona|Sedona]], Arizona.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Juneau |first1=Jen |last2=Leon |first2=Anya |title=Petra Němcová Is Pregnant! Model, 40, Expecting First Child with Husband Benjamin Larretche |url=https://people.com/parents/petra-nemcova-pregnant-expecting-first-child-husband-benjamin-larretche/ |access-date=20 September 2019 |magazine=People |date=19 September 2019}}</ref> Their first child was born on 15 November 2019. He was premature, born at 34 weeks' gestation, and spent the first weeks of his life in a [[neonatal intensive care unit]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://torontosun.com/entertainment/celebrity/supermodel-petra-nemcova-reveals-shes-a-new-mother-on-instagram/wcm/4ecda769-2333-46ea-b245-74dba0fceae3 | title=Supermodel Petra Nemcova reveals she's a new mother on Instagram | date=27 November 2019 | author=WENN | newspaper=Toronto Sun | access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref>

"This huge wave just pulled us out of the house," Nemcova, 25, told the Daily News last night from her hospital bed in Thailand. "It was so powerful I couldn't get up. I couldn't get out of it."

==References==

"People were screaming and kids were screaming all over the place, screaming, 'Help, help.' And after a few minutes, you didn't hear the kids anymore."

{{reflist}}

==External links==

"I heard people screaming and I looked out the window and people were jumping out of the way, jumping into the pool"

{{Sister project links |wikt=no |commons=Petra Němcová |b=no |n=no |q=Petra Němcová |s=no |v=no |species=no |display=Petra Němcová}}

* {{official website|http://www.petra-nemcova.com}}

* {{Fashionmodel|name=Petra Nemcova}}

* {{IMDb name|1023092|Petra Němcová}}

{{Authority control}}

"I was screaming, 'On the roof! On the roof!' I tried to go on the roof but I got sucked away"

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nemcova, Petra}}

"I just tried to survive and tried to think positive"

[[Category:1979 births]]

[[Category:Living people]]

"I was so broken, I couldn't walk ... There were so many people with horrible injuries, with blood everywhere. It was like a war movie."

[[Category:People from Karviná]]

[[Category:Czech female models]]

"There might be pieces of bone stuck to my organs," said Nemcova, who was medicated with morphine but still agonized at her boyfriend's disappearance.

[[Category:Czech television personalities]]

[[Category:Czech women writers]]

"I can't find Simon," she said. "It was horrible. I'm very lucky, but I can't find Simon."

[[Category:21st-century Czech women writers]]

[[Category:Czech philanthropists]]

== External links ==

[[Category:Czech expatriates in Italy]]

[[Category:Czech expatriates in the United States]]

'''About Petra Nemcova:'''

* [http://www.petranemcova.org Petra Nemcova's Official Site]

* [http://www.askmen.com/women/models_100/138_petra_nemcova.html AskMen.com Biography]

'''News Articles:'''

* [http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/266012p-227820c.html NY Daily News article titled 'N.Y. supermodel held on for dear life for 8 hours in raging surf']

* [http://news.google.com/news?q=%22Petra+Nemcova%22&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=nn&oi=newsr Latest Google's News result about Petra Nemcova]

'''Image Galleries:'''

* [http://images.google.com/images?q=%22Petra+Nemcova%22&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&output=search Google Images]

* [http://pnemcova.kmmod.com/ Petra Nemcova Image Galleries]

* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2003_swimsuit/gallery/petra Petra Nemcova's 2003 Sports Illustrated Photoshoot]

[[Category:Supermodels|Nemcova, Petra]]

[[Category:1981 births|Nemcova, Petra]]

[[Category:2004 Indian Ocean earthquake victims|Nemcova, Petra]]