Petra Nemcova
Poster: H! Society 10/01/2008
STUNNING CZECH MODEL PETRA NEMCOVA SPOKE TO MIRTHA JENNINGS (FAMOUS) AT THE MADRID FASHION WEEK, WHERE SHE WAS PROMOTING MOET & CHANDON’S NEW CHAMPAGNE – A LIMITED EDITION CALLED “BE FABULOUS GOLD BOTTLE” The 28-year-old Czech supermodel seems very mature for her age and very down to earth. She now centres her life around helping the needy after losing her fiancé when the tsunami struck Thailand in 2004. What does fashion mean to you?I love fashion. For me, fashion has always been just a tool to get to other goals. I like to help others less fortunate, and definitely this is right now my main priority. It has given me a lot of satisfaction in many ways; for example, I have travelled all around the world and got the opportunity to see fantastic places. I’ve been really lucky to have met many interesting people, very diverse. Also, I had the opportunity to meet a wonderful person very dear to me, who I adore but unfortunately he’s gone for ever. His name was Simon Atlee, an excellent fashion photographer and he was my boyfriend. Losing Simon has changed your life forever…Of course, after what we went through, lived and suffered. For me, the meaning of life has changed completely. In fact, after this dramatic tragedy, I decided to stay away from fashion and really focus my life on other things, you know. Since then, I have only gone back to work on special occasions. So how are you feeling these days?I look at things in a different way. I guess, I’m a happier person because I live the moment to its fullest. Each experience has its pros and cons and what happened to me has given me the opportunity to help others. I have learned to overcome problems in a different way. Tell us about your Happy Hearts Fund…Well, through this foundation we try to provide a decent and happier life to children. Our main mission is to aid children in need. For this, HHF builds new schools, nurseries, hospitals for the orphan children of the tsunami. Also, we try to help not only the children but all the survivors out there, who need special care and have suffered a lot. And what can you tell us about the book you wrote?It’s a book written with a lot of love, called Love Always, Petra, and I dedicated it to my boyfriend who died there. Honestly, this book was a wonderful therapy for me, you know. Although telling my experience was very painful, it helped me get rid of a lot of pain and, I think, it was a healthy thing to do. Also, it’s an inspirational book, full of courage. I believe it’s a good and useful tool for many people. Definitely, it was a rewarding experience. The best of all was that the sales of this book went directly to the foundation, so we could keep on helping the children and this really made feel good and happy. As a model, you have also done some advertising for cosmetics...Well, after being discovered by an agent on the streets of Karvina I was always told that I had a peculiar look which helped me work in advertising. I have worked with such wonderful houses as Max Factor, Lancaster and Clarins. It was a fantastic experience and I have good memories of it. At this moment, is there that special someone who is holding your hand?That’s a nice question. The truth is that right now there is no one special in my life. I am just focusing all my energy on my family and friends; that’s all I need at the moment. So has this made you stronger?Yes. That tragedy has definitely changed my life and my scale of values. Before, all I thought of was work, work and work, and now I have gone back to what really is important in everyone’s life: family, love, friends. Now I’m trying to enrich my spiritual values. Definitely, I feel much stronger now. What’s your aim now?Well, I’d like to take advantage of my fame and help others; this is my main objective now and being involved in charities is a priority for me. I’m very fortunate that I can do this as a model. Work is pretty important but, I must say, it’s not a priority. Now I just live the moment rather than thinking or planning the future. You look very happy… can you define yourself?Thanks! I’m only 28 and I think I am pretty mature for my age. I have learned to overcome problems in a different way. I think I’m more romantic now than before. I’m still a practical person and now I just want to focus on helping others, and definitely now I take my time to enjoy life more than before.
