Petra Nemcova Bio: In Her Own Words – Video Exclusive, News, Photos, Age

Petra Nemcova Biography

Petra Nemcova, a Czech supermodel, philanthropist, and author born in 1979, is known for her philanthropic efforts as much as her modeling career.

Petra Nemcova Modeling

Nemcova was discovered as a teenager on the streets of Prague by NEXT Model Management. She moved to Milan after signing with the firm and then returned back home. In 1995, she won the ‘Elite Model Look’ competition in the Czech Republic and moved back to Milan. She became well-known in the fashion world after she landed the 2003 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover. She appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition every year from 2002—2006

Nemcova has appeared in dozens of campaigns, including for Benetton, Bulgari, Hewlett Packard/Intel, La Perla, Pantene Pro-V and Victoria’s Secret. She has also covered several major magazines, including Elle, Shape, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and – of course – Sports Illustrated.

Petra Nemcova Thailand Tsunami, Simon Atlee

In December 2004, Nemcova was vacationing in Thailand at the Khao Lak Resort with her photographer and then-fiancé Simon Atlee when the Indian Ocean Earthquake occurred. The earthquake caused a tsunami that swept through Asia and hit their resort. Nemcova survived by holding onto the top of a palm tree for eight hours but suffered severe internal injuries and a broken pelvis. Atlee died in the earthquake — his body was found in March of 2005.

Petra Nemcova Happy Hearts Foundation

Following the tsunami, Nemcova founded the Happy Hearts Fund (HHF), a non-profit charitable organization that aims to help children by rebuilding schools in areas struck by natural disasters. “The Happy Hearts Fund is a foundation we just started in 2006 after being blessed with surviving the 2004 Asian tsunami,” she told Uinterview exclusively. “The focus is on rebuilding schools after natural disasters when children are forgotten. When first responders leave often they don’t have safe, disaster-proof schools for up to 10 years, which means that often a whole generation is kept without an education, and we don’t want to leave these children forgotten. That’s why Happy Hearts Fund goes and builds safe disaster-proof schools and we provide children hope and opportunities to have a better and brighter future.”

In 2017, the Happy Hearts Fund merged with All Hands Volunteers, another nonprofit aimed at helping communities impacted by disasters. The two created All Hands And Hearts, which has more than 60,000 volunteers and has helped 26 countries. Nemcova is primarily focused on this organization, of which she serves as co-founder and vice chair.

In 2005, Nemcova wrote and released her autobiography Love Always, Petra. In the book, she talked about her early life under Communist rule in Czechoslovakia, as well as her entrance into the world of modeling and her breakthrough to supermodel-territory, which came with her first Sports Illustrated cover.

Petra Nemcova TV Appearances

In addition to her modeling, writing and philanthropy, Nemcova has also appeared on several television programs including Absolutely Fabulous (2001) and A Model Life (2007). In 2004, she appeared as one of the judges in the Miss Universe competition. In 2011, Nemcova competed on the celebrity dance competition Dancing With The Stars. She and her partner, Dmitry Chaplin, came in eighth place after being eliminated in the fifth week.

Nemcova was also the subject of makeup artist and body painter Joanne Gair’s body painting work. She has even dabbled in realty, partnering with Aglow Properties to sell two apartments around $25 million in New York in 2008.

Petra Nemcova Dating History, Fashion Tips, Personal Life

Nemcova has dated a number of famous men. In addition to Atlee, she dated James Blunt, Sean Penn, Badr Jafar and Jamie Belman. She is also rumored to have dated Julian Lennon.

She married Benjamin Larretche in 2019.

Nemcova told Uinterview her opinions on a man who dresses well. “Men’s suit I think is really almost like a business card for a man, because if it’s a well-made suit you really — it says a lot, it says who the man is, if he’s thoughtful about his wardrobe, what kind of person he is,” she said. “I think it’s the first sort of introduction from far away before you have the chance to give the business card.”

As for women? Nemcova said that it’s all about what the woman is going for with her clothes. “If it’s a red carpet dress it’s a statement piece, if it’s a cocktail dress I think it’s the simplicity it’s very less is more, and for me personally because I’m a gypsy and I travel all the time,” she said.

Nemcova, who went vegan in 2007, is currently represented by Next Model Management in London, Milan, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Miami. She has one sister, named Olga.