Karolina Kurkova

Date of Birth: 1984-02-28
Place of Birth: Děčín, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic)
Height: 5'11 "
Nationality: Czech
Occupation: Model

Kurkova was born in Děčín, Czechoslovakia to a Czech father and a Slovak mother. She had an early insight into what life would be celebrities, because her father, Josef Kurka, was a star basketball player. As a child, her height made it relatively difficult and gangly, but that could all change with age. A good friend recognized her beauty and sent photos of Kurkova to an agency in Prague.

Kurkova immediately landed a runway appearance, as well as a commercial and print ad. Yet all but one model in the Czech Republic has not expose her to what fashion was really about, so Kurkova took a chance and traveled to Milan to get more experience. There, Miuccia Prada, the designer behind the famous brand, Prada, which her to a contract that was the beginning of a stellar career. In September of 1999, Kurkova's dedication and hard work leads to an encounter with Vogue editors in New York City.

She impressed upon them immediately, and the executives slowly began to lick her for success. A permanent move to New York and an even more hectic work underway. It's all paid off when, at seventeen years old, Kurkova landed a spot as cover model for the February 2001 issue of Vogue. Kurkova was now recognized at haute couture fashion and lingerie brand Victoria's Secret chose her as a part of the year that the television fashion show special.

Prominent fashion houses such as Yves Saint-Laurent took note of her and signed deals to Kurkova. Print campaigns for Tommy Hilfiger, Valentino, and others helped expose Kurkova even more, while she headlined the second Victoria's Secret show the following year. The steady stream of work (she is said to have worked 23 weeks straight) was recognized by Vogue as they honored her with the "Model of the Year" title at the 2002 VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards.

The usual contracts with top designers such as Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Chanel and Balenciaga continued, and a recent census put Kurkova's magazine cover appearances at 80 and counting. She was honored both in the fashion world for her personality, which is described as intense and energetic, as for her appearance. This attractive attitude leaves little doubt that Kurkova will emerge as a legendary supermodel, even legendary Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, called her "the next super model." When asked to explain Kurkova's allure, David Bonnouvrier, the owner of the agency Kurkova, DNA, says simply, "she is it." In this case, "it" means Kurkova's "incredible dynamism." She combines "the ultimate authority with incredibly fresh features and a very spicy attitude and energy - which is in its photographs," says Bonnouvrier. Trudi Tapscott, Vogue's bookings editor, was impressed by Kurkova from the moment the magazine began with her in the summer of 2000.

"Very feminine," are the words used to describe Tapscott Kurkova of the appeal, adding that it is Kurkova's "extra special energy and enthusiasm", which sets its apart from the pack. Kurkova has been the subject in fashion spreads in most major fashion magazines including UK, U.S., and French Vogue (as well as other international versions of Vogue), Vanity Fair, The Face, and W. The most recent Kurkova has grabbed the cover of Korea's W, as well as the Greek Vogue. She has worked with famous photographers in the fashion industry today, such as Steven Klein, Mario Sorrenti, and Mario Testino, who said of Kurkova, "The proportions of her body and her face, as well as its energy level, make her a model that would can fit into almost any time.

"Designer Marc Jacobs of Kurkova said," She has an angelic look with a dark side, she is sweet and nice, but looks like it could be an evil bewitching child. " Living in New York's Tribeca district, Kurkova is able to separate himself from modeling enough to enjoy court side basketball games at Madison Square Garden. Karolina Kurkova appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Wednesday, November 30.