Petra Nemcova: Life After The Tsunami

Five years ago, Petra Nemcova was one of the world's most famous supermodels with her gorgeous face and body on the spreads of Sports Illustrated, the catalogs of Victoria's Secret lingerie, and the ad campaigns of many women's clothing lines.

When she spent a supposed quiet vacation in Khao Lak resort in Thailand with her main photographer and fiancé, Simon Atlee, the globally-reported 2004 Tsunami struck the place where they were staying. The young model was swept away from her hotel room and suffered a broken pelvis and serious internal injuries. Miraculously, she was able to cling on to the top of a palm tree and managed to hold on for eight hours. She was rescued by local civilians and airlifted to an inland hospital later. Her boyfriend, however, was not found until over two months after the tsunami, his body lying dead on the shores of Sumatra.

With the heart of a survivor, Petra Nemcova returned back to Thailand four months later to visit the Tsunami zone and empathized with the local children who lost their loved ones to the natural calamity.

"They lost their parents or their brothers and sisters. They didn't have anywhere to go. They didn't have any stability. When you looked at those children they didn't actually look at you, they looked through you. And it was this look without hope," the model said.

This has inspired Petra Nemcova to establish The Happy Hearts Fund in 2006. The charitable organization aims to advocate and provide for disadvantaged children with the sustainable help they need for healthy childhood development, including building schools for children in areas ruined by natural disasters.


The Czech model has, indeed, moved on after the tragedy. She was awarded the Glamour magazine's "Survivor Award" in 2005 for the way she picked up her life after the tsunami ordeal. She posed back on Sports Illustrated, the magazine which has become her springboard to becoming a supermodel. She wrote the book "Love Always, Petra" which narrates her life from early years in Communist Czechoslovakia to her engagement with Simon Atlee and to her life after losing him. She continued her modeling career while establishing a luxury boutique real estate firm at the same time. She has also been romantically involved with few men.

Petra Nemcova continues to take active involvement in many charity campaigns. The Happy Hearts Fund has expanded and is now providing help to children in eight different countries.

Recently on Good Morning America, the 30 year-old Petra Nemcova has once again spoke of her near-death experience. Watching the video footage of her rescue from tsunami, she was asked what has changed to the young woman she saw. The model and philanthropist answered, "Really, honestly, what I'm doing now, being able to improve, and better lives of children, that's what I always wanted to do."

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer Retires From The Catwalk

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer has revealed to Italian magazine Donna Materna that she will never strut on the runway again. The 39 year-old German beauty says:

"I am finished with the catwalk and I won't miss it. I continue to model and it's a lot of fun – but no more fashion shows."


Instead of gracing the catwalk, the 5'11" leggy model says she would love to be sitting on the front row and check out all the dresses. "I can sit on the side and view the outfits and see all the detail and that suits me fine. It's very enjoyable. I like my new viewpoint," she confesses.

As a supermodel, Claudia Schiffer is most popular in the 1990s. She is the iconic muse of Chanel and walks the runway alongside Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, and Kate Moss. She has graced the covers of many fashion magazines and has also appeared in many films and commercials.

After being discovered from a Düsseldorf night club in 1987, Claudia Schiffer has already made an estimated £38million fortune. She has been modeling for almost 20 years but unlike Naomi Campbell, she insists she had enough of strutting.

With homes in London and Suffolk, Claudia Schiffer is now busy off the runway being a mother of two and still a face for many high-fashion campaigns. She says she's leading an "odd" life at the moment, which includes a planned trip to Iraq.

Brazil Criticized Karolina Kurkova For Being Too Fat?

After the death of a Brazilian model in 2006 because of anorexia, Brazil was one of the first countries to make a public outcry for the promotion of “too-thin” beauty standards in the fashion industry. So what is this buzz now about “too-fat” supermodel Karolina Kurkova?

The 24-year old, 5'11'' Czech supermodel Karolina Kurkova made an appearance at the recent Sao Paulo Fashion Week. The catwalk queen was said to appear in a bikini, shockingly “chubby” and “with cellulite on her butt.” The Brazilian fans were said to be disappointed of her look because it was just so “unlike Karolina.”

Karolina Kurkova is a Victoria's Secret Angel best known for her “superfit” physique. She is also one of the highest paid models of the world, according to Forbes magazine.

And so it leads us to question the depth of the campaign against “too-thin” models in the fashion industry, especially in Brazil as it is one of the most active countries who support the cause. If models are being criticized for being too thin and anorexics, how come the media is slating the blond supermodel for her "back fat?”