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Biography
Petra Němcová (Czech pronunciation: [ˈpɛtra ˈɲɛmt͡sovaː]; born June 24, 1979) is a Czech model, television host and philanthropist who founded and chairs the Happy Hearts Fund.
Early life
Němcová was born in Karviná, then Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic, and grew up in Karviná in the Moravian–Silesian Region with her sister Olga.
Career
Modeling
Scouted on the streets of Prague by NEXT Model Management, upon signing she moved to Milan, Italy. 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. Additionally, she has appeared on the covers of Madame Figaro, Elle, Shape, Cosmopolitan, Flare, Vegas, Glamour, FHM and Sports Illustrated.
In 2000-2004 she worked for designers Lolita Lempicka, Gai Mattiolo Erreuno, Matthew Williamson, Custo Barceloa, Blunauta, Dirk Bikkembergs, Gugliemo Cappone, Luciano soprani, Marina Babini, Yumi Katsura, Akadius, and Michino Koshino.
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. She was the object/subject of Joanne Gair's body painting work. In January 2015 Němcová replaced Abbey Clancy as the face of Ultimo underwear.
Television
In 2001 Němcová appeared on British television series Absolutely Fabulous. 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.
She was a losing contestant on season 12 of Dancing with the Stars and her professional dance partner was Dmitry Chaplin.
In 2005 Němcová published her autobiography Love Always, Petra (ISBN 0446579130).
Personal life
Němcová is multilingual and speaks Czech, Slovak, Polish, English, French, and Italian. She was briefly engaged to English actor Jamie Belman. In May 2014, Němcová told People that she is dating the former Prime Minister of Haiti, Laurent Lamothe. but as of 2015 they are no longer together.
2004 Boxing Day Tsunami
On December 26, 2004 Němcová was in Khao Lak, Thailand with her main photographer and then fiancé Simon Atlee when the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck. 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.
Philanthropy
In 2005 Němcová created the Happy Hearts Fund (HHF), a charitable organization and campaign formed after the Tsunami of 2004.
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.
Glamour magazine awarded Němcová a "Survivor Award" in 2005 for her charity work following her tsunami ordeal.