About
Petra Němcová is a Czech supermodel, television host, and philanthropist who first caught global attention on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s 2003 Swimsuit Issue. Her career has taken her from runways in Milan and Paris to high-profile campaigns for luxury brands, yet what truly defines her public image today is her humanitarian work. After surviving the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami—an ordeal in which she clung to a palm tree for eight hours and lost her partner, photographer Simon Atlee—she redirected much of her life toward disaster relief. In 2005 she created the Happy Hearts Fund to rebuild schools in communities struck by natural catastrophes; that charity merged in 2017 with All Hands Volunteers to form All Hands & Hearts, where she now serves as co-founder and vice-chair. Media outlets continue to spotlight her dual identity: catwalk star and tireless advocate for resilient schools and safer classrooms.
Before Fame
Born on 24 June 1979 in Karviná—then Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic—Petra grew up in a modest household with her parents and sister Olga. A talent scout discovered her in Prague when she was fifteen, and she soon entered (and won) the 1995 Czech round of the Elite Model Look competition. That victory led her to Milan, where early bookings with fashion houses honed both her runway stride and her knack for languages; today she speaks six fluently, including Czech, Slovak, Polish, English, French, and Italian. By her early twenties she had relocated to New York City, signed with One Management, and begun appearing in magazines such as Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. Regular swim-shoots for Sports Illustrated soon followed, culminating in her breakout 2003 cover.
Trivia
- Tsunami survivor: Her dramatic escape from the 2004 tsunami remains one of fashion’s most harrowing survival stories; the experience inspired her lifelong commitment to disaster-stricken children.
- Reality-dance alumna: Petra competed on season 12 of Dancing with the Stars in 2011, partnered with professional dancer Dmitry Chaplin, and waltzed her way to week 4 before elimination.
- Vegan advocate: A plant-based diet has been part of her wellness routine since 2007, something she often credits for the stamina required during rebuilding missions.
- Polyglot edge: Those six languages let her switch effortlessly between relief sites in Latin America, Asia, and Europe—an advantage when coordinating volunteers on the ground.
- SI legacy: Though many models grace the Swimsuit Issue, her 2003 cover is widely cited as the first by a Czech model, adding a layer of national pride to her résumé.
Family Life
Love eventually found Petra through entrepreneur Benjamin Larretche; the couple wed during a private spiritual ceremony at Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona, on 2 August 2019. Three months later, on 15 November 2019, they welcomed their first child, a son named Bodhi, who arrived six weeks early but is, in her words, “a strong and joyful little soul.” The family divides its time between New York and global project sites, often traveling together so Bodhi can “grow up seeing kindness in action,” as Petra has shared in recent interviews that marked the tsunami’s 20-year remembrance.
Associated With
Petra’s philanthropic route has allied her with world leaders and celebrities who champion recovery work. The Happy Hearts initiative has been praised by President Bill Clinton, whose foundation once honored her for post-disaster school rebuilding. Within fashion, she has walked for designers such as Alberta Ferretti and Chanel and shared magazine pages with fellow SI icons like Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks. On television, her Dancing with the Stars stint earned supportive shout-outs from judge Carrie Ann Inaba and host Tom Bergeron, showing how far her influence stretches beyond the runway. Today, whether she’s addressing the United Nations on resilient infrastructure or appearing at Cannes beside Benjamin to spotlight eco-conservation campaigns, Petra Němcová embodies a blend of glamour and grounded compassion that continues to inspire both the fashion world and the wider humanitarian community.
