Profiles of Courage
Petra Nemcova
In Petra’s words…
“This horrible crime plagues humanity and claims so many victims each year. There is no easy solution – only a monumental battle fought each day by courageous heroes like Somaly Mam. Each of us can make an important difference by giving whatever amount we can afford to give. $5, $10 and $20 goes a long ways towards helping rehabilitate a victim and put them back on a track towards a more normal life. I call upon each of you to do whatever you can to help Somaly fight this important battle by giving freely of your time, money and voice”
Petra was born in the Czech Republic. Her father was a mason and her mother a teacher. After being spotted at the age of 16 during a national talent search, Petra's modeling career took off and she quickly rose to international fame.
In 2003, she became an instant celebrity when Sports Illustrated featured Petra as a cover girl in its swimsuit issue. She also has modeled for Victoria's Secret and many other companies in the women's clothing market. One of the most influential experiences in her life thus far happened during the Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004. Petra was at the Khao Lak resort in Thailand when the tsunami struck and knows she was fortunate to have survived.
In 2005, Glamour magazine awarded Nemcová a"Survivor Award" h honoring her courage to carry on after the tsunami experience. Her personal determination to heal has resulted in many accomplishments, including her appearance in the 2006 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and A Model Life, as well as a devotion to countless humanitarian causes such as the Somaly Mam Foundation and the establishment of the Happy Hearts Fund.