Petra Nemcova sits in her wicker chair on a picturesque balcony, legs casually crossed and looks nothing short of stunning in faded jeans and an unzipped leather jacket
She is clever, enchanting and maintains a sparkle true to her personality as she reflects on the fortuities that have been afforded to her in life, taking her from a small mining town in the Czech Republic to fast paced New York. ‘It’s a Cinderella story with a twist in it.’
As communism crumbled, the young Nemcova and her friends began to get their first taste of Western media. Fascinated with the models on the TV but lacking the self confidence herself, it took her best friend Camille, who entered her in a local talent contest, to help Nemcova realise her dream.
Years later, and a whole lot more the wiser, Nemcova understands that it’s not all about looks. ‘It’s not just about being beautiful, some of the girls are just really interesting. A lot of it is about their personality as well, being sociable, kind and respectful.’ But the real success stories in her eyes are the ones who not only possess the beauty, but the brains also, ‘They know how to take care of themselves, what to do, how to do it, when to do it, how to react’.
Hannah Berry
